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.
Laughing Gull
when I said I going to photograph a Gull, they all laughed. Well they're not laughing now.
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
The Laughing Gull first winter photographed at New Brighton.
It wasn't a bird that excited me but as the weather was so good I decided make the journey.
I arrived late morning to find lots of photographers had been filling their boots.
I only managed a few shots before the bird took to the wing and disappeared.
Flyby
Yesterday's session with the Owls.
It was very late in the afternoon when the Short eared owls turned up all were at some distance, only one came within range before disappearing from view.
Later
Interlude
A short break from the Short-eared Owls
on my way to photograph the SEO's I spotted a group of Long-tailed Tits.
It's a nice distraction in-between long wait for the Owls put in an appearance.
E&O
Errors and Omissions apply.
I am not the only one that makes mistakes, this Owl makes them too.
Another session with the Short-eared Owls.
Still too far away, had to over sharpen them, not very good.
Caribbean 2010
In 2010 I went on a Caribbean cruise taking in Antigua, Dominica, Saint Martin, Saint Lucia.
Whilst on the Cruise ship hundreds of miles from land this Peregrine Falcon joined us.
After eating an unfortunate Storm Petrel it was intent on catching flying Fish.
Magnificent Frigatebird
Green-throated Crib Hummingbird
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Green Heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Kingbird
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
More later
Spoke too Soon
Spoke too soon
The recent snow covering has attracted lots more birds to the garden as expected and the two species
that I have been waiting for.
Redpoll and Siskin have turned up at last, all I need to do now is set up my camera in the best position and that means
photographing from the garden shed which I haven't been doing.
Redpoll
I have been using an open window with some camouflage netting in the warmth of the house.
I know its lazy but it works for me.
I still struggle with the light and have been using some fill flash, sometimes is ok other times its crap( mainly crap).
I am not a great fan of it but sometimes needs must.
Goldfinch.
Nuthatch
Cuba 2009
Cuba 2009
In 2009 I went to Cuba for two weeks it wasn't a photographic holiday it was something my wife had arranged.
I did have my camera with me so took advantage of the opportunity to photograph some of the local sites and wildlife.
Great Lizard Cuckoo
Eastern Meadowlark
Turkey Vulture
Carib Crackle
Green Heron
Yellow Throated Warbler
Cuban Grassquit
Black and White Warbler
I would like to go again in the not too distant before it all changes.
Snow at Last
Snow at last
Although snow is not a good thing if you have to get to work, it does have lots of recreational use
skiing is the of obvious one and photography is one of the others.
I have been waiting for the opportunity to photograph birds in the snow for weeks.
The last time we had a good covering in the garden I was at our house in France.
It did snow a little bit whilst I was there and I did manage to photograph a Hawfinch in the garden
but they are a bit disappointing, so I was a optimistic when some snow was forecast here.
I made sure all my garden feeders were full and set up my camouflage screen and waited.
I don't have to wait long as the birds sit and watch me fill them up and before I am back in the house
the birds are on the feeders.
The birds don't hang around too long as they are very nervous of the Sparrow Hawk which visits the garden from time to time.
The other problem is that the snow is not sticking and will soon melt.
Last year I was getting Siskin and Redpoll in the garden but that has not happened yet.
What I am getting is lots of Goldfinch some Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Long- tailed Tits,
Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tit, Nuthatch and big fat Woodpigeons.
It's the same old birds that I am photographing but having snow makes them a bit different.
More later.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
It's my second trip to photograph Short-eared Owls, the first trip was uneventful. It could have been the very cold wind that put the birds off, it certainly put me off, I was bloody freezing.
I returned today as it is the last day of the week with any reasonable weather ( still crap) but that's how it is.
Not long after arriving in the distance I noticed a Short-eared Owl quartering the field, if I'm lucky it could come my way.
With rubbish light I decided to stick with 500mm ISO 800 and hope the Short-eared Owl would come within range.
I could even get an half descent photograph of one ( that would be a first).
True to form the Short-eared Owl kept a good distance from my camera lens (should have put the converter on) it's all a bit too far.
None are good most are bad and some are ugly.
I will give it another go next week if the weather improves
Frozen
It's very cold today but I thought I would have quick walk around my local nature reserve ( according to the weather forecast rain was due later) so I wouldn't be out for long.
After a brief scan of the trees for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker the cold started to get to me I was frozen
so I decided to call it off and go home after two hours.
With my camera focused on the feeding station my garden seemed a better option.
A Long-tailed Tit called in for a visit.
As I tried to focus on the very active Long-tailed Tit the postman arrived, I am expecting a map of the Brenne area of France that I ordered off Amazon.
I opened the padded envelope in anticipation only to find the Cheshire and Wirral Bird Report. I had forgotten that I was being sent a complimentary copy as it one contained one of my photographs.
Cheshire Life's magazine also contained one of my photographs in its December issue (That's enough self promotion).
Back at the feeding station I was trying to photograph birds on some Bracket Fungi as the Long-tailed Tit was long gone.
Its a bit dull
Long-tailed Tits
Long tailed Tits are one of my favourite garden birds, one or two visit my garden most days
Long-tailed Tit: Aegithalos caudatus
