Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Saturday, 25 February 2012
In the Dene...
Had a lie in til 09:00 this morning, so arrived at Holywell a bit later, heading straight to the Dene's feeding station. More filming was on the cards, with the hope to capture some of the woodland species.
The feeding station was alive with activity on arrival, mainly Blue and Great Tits, but also Coal Tit, Long-Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Dunnock and Chaffinch. A couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were disputing territories overhead, and a couple of Grey Wagtails made their way down the Burn.
A couple of mammals visited the feeding station whilst I was there, managed to capture a Bank Vole on film, but here's an image of the the second mammal.
The GoPro also came out, here's a clip.
The feeding station was alive with activity on arrival, mainly Blue and Great Tits, but also Coal Tit, Long-Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Dunnock and Chaffinch. A couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were disputing territories overhead, and a couple of Grey Wagtails made their way down the Burn.
A couple of mammals visited the feeding station whilst I was there, managed to capture a Bank Vole on film, but here's an image of the the second mammal.
The GoPro also came out, here's a clip.
Friday, 24 February 2012
Holywell
A full day of filming saw the morning start out at St Mary's for an hour or so, before the tide retreated and the wind began to pick up.
For the rest of the day I was on patch, between the Pond and the Dene. The pond was quiet as usual, although the NWT were working with chainsaws in the North Wood, 4 Tufted, a pair of Pochard, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Canada Geese, 1 Little Grebe, Moorhen, Mallard, Teal, 3 Gadwall and a lone Grey Heron were on the pond, with Brambling and Tree Sparrow in the feeding station.
The reeds reflecting in the warm light caught my eye from the members hide.
The main project for the day, in the Dene, was to film the Snowdrops. Pocketed up and down the burn, I quite enjoyed exploring the different patches of plants and their positioning.
The Dene seemed to be alive with song, with at least 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming. I've uploaded a short audio clip below, the microphone used wasn't ideal but I think its worked quite well, capturing the essence of the woodland, how I experienced it.
Heading back up to the pond as the light began to fade 2 Treecreepers amongst a Tit flock made an appearance, as did 3 Grey Wagtail on the burn. A pair of Shelduck were on the pond as I passed.
After tea I dropped my sister off at Cubs and headed back to Holywell, to photograph the stars. Passing the public hide the silhouettes of 300+ Geese could be seen, a mix of Greylag and Pink-Footed Geese could be heard. I've only ever seen the geese come to roost once, as it seems the majority of the time they arrived and leave in darkness.
Generally once it gets dark you can walk anywhere, past the pond, through the dene and farmland and you'll not see a soul, but tonight I caught sight of a torch heading in my direction. It turned out that it was another photographer with the same idea!
For the rest of the day I was on patch, between the Pond and the Dene. The pond was quiet as usual, although the NWT were working with chainsaws in the North Wood, 4 Tufted, a pair of Pochard, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Canada Geese, 1 Little Grebe, Moorhen, Mallard, Teal, 3 Gadwall and a lone Grey Heron were on the pond, with Brambling and Tree Sparrow in the feeding station.
The reeds reflecting in the warm light caught my eye from the members hide.
The main project for the day, in the Dene, was to film the Snowdrops. Pocketed up and down the burn, I quite enjoyed exploring the different patches of plants and their positioning.
The Dene seemed to be alive with song, with at least 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming. I've uploaded a short audio clip below, the microphone used wasn't ideal but I think its worked quite well, capturing the essence of the woodland, how I experienced it.
Heading back up to the pond as the light began to fade 2 Treecreepers amongst a Tit flock made an appearance, as did 3 Grey Wagtail on the burn. A pair of Shelduck were on the pond as I passed.
After tea I dropped my sister off at Cubs and headed back to Holywell, to photograph the stars. Passing the public hide the silhouettes of 300+ Geese could be seen, a mix of Greylag and Pink-Footed Geese could be heard. I've only ever seen the geese come to roost once, as it seems the majority of the time they arrived and leave in darkness.
Generally once it gets dark you can walk anywhere, past the pond, through the dene and farmland and you'll not see a soul, but tonight I caught sight of a torch heading in my direction. It turned out that it was another photographer with the same idea!
Sunday, 19 February 2012
St Mary's
I'm in the process of producing a short documentary for my final media project at University, one of the sites featured is St Mary's Island. Awakening to glorious sunshine I headed down to film the waders.
John was already on the beach, at its northern end, where the majority of the birds were concentrated, being pushed gently closer as the tide came in. Sanderling, Knot, Dunlin, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, and Purple Sandpiper were all present, along with Rock Pipit, Pied and a single Grey Wagtail. I didn't set out to take any images, but snapped a few whilst filming.
Experimenting with a few filming techniques I noticed two colour ringed individuals, one Sanderling and one Turnstone, I've reported both, hopefully some info will be returned.
The wind soon began to pick up, as did the waves causing a very mobile group of birds to feed rapidly up and down the beach.
A quick stop in at Red House Farm on the way back was surprising, finding that last winters Tree Sparrows had returned. I'm hoping to get some boxes up over the next couple of days, to see if they'll hang around.
John was already on the beach, at its northern end, where the majority of the birds were concentrated, being pushed gently closer as the tide came in. Sanderling, Knot, Dunlin, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, and Purple Sandpiper were all present, along with Rock Pipit, Pied and a single Grey Wagtail. I didn't set out to take any images, but snapped a few whilst filming.
Experimenting with a few filming techniques I noticed two colour ringed individuals, one Sanderling and one Turnstone, I've reported both, hopefully some info will be returned.
The wind soon began to pick up, as did the waves causing a very mobile group of birds to feed rapidly up and down the beach.
A quick stop in at Red House Farm on the way back was surprising, finding that last winters Tree Sparrows had returned. I'm hoping to get some boxes up over the next couple of days, to see if they'll hang around.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Monday, 6 February 2012
Norfolk
Had a whistle stop tour of North Norfolk this weekend with Ashley, Ryan and Steve. Highlights were Golden Pheasant, Lesser White Fronted Goose, Taiga Bean, Cetti's Warbler, Bearded Tit, Shore Lark, Snow Bunting, Ring-Necked Duck, Rough-Legged Buzzard, Barn Owl, Common Crane, Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Velvet Scoter, Long-Tailed Duck and a Chinese Water Deer.
We were mainly birding, but here's a few images from the weekend.
We were mainly birding, but here's a few images from the weekend.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
GoPro Robin
Lots of bold Robins at RSPB Titchwell, especially this character...
More from Norfolk tomorrow.
More from Norfolk tomorrow.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Up with the Owls...
Headed up into the North Pennines early this morning to take some star time-lapses. Passing through a small plantation, just before the terrain began to steepen, a Badger dawdled across the road. Beautifully clear skies, and below zero temperatures awaited me.
To finish the morning off I managed to get an image of this roadside Tawny Owl.
To finish the morning off I managed to get an image of this roadside Tawny Owl.
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