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.
Review 2015 June to September
June and its France with frogs in the pond, Bee Fly, Swallowtail Butterfly, Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Musk Beetle, Sallow Kitten moth and back in the UK a Cockshafer and Tawny Owl.
July still in the UK with Kingfisher, Red-footed Falcon.
Back to France in August and a Little Bittern
Oak Eggar moth
Leopard moth
Striped hawkmoth
Lappet moth
September in France Stick Insect
Praying Mantis
Yellow Bellied Toad
Mole Cricket
Broad-Borered Hawkmoth
Wasp Spider
Stag Beetle
Hornet
Back in the UK and its Green Woodpecker time
2015 Yearly Review
2015 has been an interesting year.
After spending two weeks at Christmas at our house in France we were back in the UK for the New Year.
Not having a permanent internet connection in France I had to wait until I was back in the UK to post the photographs of the Shorelark and Great Grey Shrike I had taken in December 2014.
I also posted the photographs of the Hawfinch and Firecrest that visited the back garden in France.
January wasn’t a very productive month; I did a few Short-eared Owls, Willow Tits.
but spent more time taking photographs in my garden the highlight being Redpoll which visited the feeding station along with the other garden birds.
February was a good month with lots of variety starting with some more Short-eared Owls. A laughing Gull, Water Rail, Water Pipit, Snow Bunting, Red-throated Diver. Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl.
March more Red-throated Diver and Snow Bunting photographs. Goldcrest started to visit the garden on a regular basis. I had a holiday in Rome then back to photograph the Great crested Grebe weed dance, Coots at war, new arrival in the pond and finishing off with the Solar eclipse.
When in Rome
April and I was back in France and the Black Redstarts didn’t disappoint along with the Fire Salamander.
Back in the UK and Dippers finished of April.
May and it's back to France and lots to photograph:
Slow worm, Little Owl, Tau Emperor Moth, Black winged Stilt, Stag Beetle larvae, Purple thorn moth, Common Wall lizard, Night Heron, Orange tip butterfly, Scarce Swallowtail butterfly.
On my return to the UK, Wood Warbler, Common Sandpiper, Smooth Newt, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Oil Beetle, Green Hairstreak.
Last chance
It’s the last chance to get some photographs of the Short-eared Owls in good light this week and with Christmas one week away too, I had to give it a go.
After selecting a spot in the field with the Sun behind me, I started what could be a long wait. It was late in the afternoon when one or two birds started to hunt. However I was in the wrong place most of the time with the birds flying behind me.
More from the day later
It's Back
I took the shot through the window and at an angle, not a good situation to be in. Now I know it’s here I can make plans to get the photograph I want, using the Canon 7D mk 2 and external flash.
Now it’s a waiting game.
Just Another Day
You shouldn’t take the Short-eared Owls for granted they will soon be gone until next year, you can be lucky and get them in good light but most of the time that’s not the case.
You say to yourself, I will get them another day.
You take the shots you can but not the ones you wish you could get.
It all has to come together; you have to have the time, the good weather and the luck.
Time, I have that. Good weather that’s in the lap of the Gods. Luck, more visits means a chance of more luck.
I am still working on the latter.
More later
Hunting Owls
I arrived at first light to be greeted by two hunting Barn Owls, one of which soon disappeared from view.
I slowly made my way into position getting as close as I could, although It wasn’t near enough (it never is).
The light wasn’t up to much; I was going to struggle to get any shots.
I took a few shots, (why I don’t really know). I have better shots of Barn Owls and these are going to be rubbish, but that’s what we do.
A better photograph taken a few years ago
With better positioning and a lot of luck some good shots are achievable but not for me today.
The remaining Barn Owl soon disappeared.
As time passed along with any good light nothing turned up to photograph, the promise of Short-eared Owls seemed to be a joke.
With the sun started to disappear one Short-eared Owl took to the sky only to tantalize the waiting photographers, then it too disappeared followed the photographers.
More Later
