Something Different

As it's that time of year when the bird's go quiet and there isn't much around to photograph I thought I would try something different.  What I didn't know is that you have to get up at silly o'clock in the morning to photograph butterflies.

The alarm set at 3 am I was up early and the weather forecast was good so I headed to meet Ken.  We arrived whilst it was still dark but by the time we got the gear together the sun was just coming up.

It didn't take us long before Ken spotted the first Butterfly, we continued to search and there was plenty.

When the sun first came up it gave us some really nice yellow early morning light.

Chalkhill Blue

It was a steep learning curve for me on the different type of species there and it wasn't all that easy to spot them at first.  

As the sun continued to rise we spotted more and more butterflies present.

Brown Argus

 Small Heath

Adonis Blue

Ken had warned me that the grass would be wet and tall in places so I am very glad I put on the waterproof trousers because by the time I had rolled all around the floor taking pictures I was soaked through.

As the temperature warmed up the butterflies became very active and more or less impossible to photograph so we called it a day.  The best thing of it all was we had bagged up by 8.30 am and ready to go back home.  

With a successful day behind us we opted to try again the next day with John but this time down Oxford.  

YES another 3am alarm was set and I was driving south to meet the clan.  This time we were not so lucky as it was very windy which meant the butterflies stayed low in the grass which made it more or less impossible to find.  After several hours of searching all I managed was another Brown Argus and a Grasshopper.

Brown Argus

Grasshopper

Hopefully the weather is good next weekend so I can try again, but for now I am glad for no more 3am alarms.  

Quick visit to the Highlands

I had been waiting for this some time now and was really looking forward to it.  After seeing some of the Osprey pics from a new hide in Aviemore it was decided we had to visit.  Due to work and holidays it was decided we would make the 7 hour drive up north early Saturday morning and then return back home Sunday evening, "YES" we must be mad.

Early Saturday morning Ken and John arrived at my house where we loaded the car and headed north, the roads were quiet for a change and the weather was also good so we made good time and was in the Highlands for midday.

There were a few species I really wanted to see and if possible get some shots of, these included Red Grouse, Divers and of course the Osprey's.

We called into a few of the local lochs but there wasn't really much around apart from a pair of spotted flycatchers.  Our good friend Pete had told me about another Loch not too far away so we headed off there in the hope of some Red Grouse.  On arrival we spotted a Cuckoo perched on the wires but the heat haze was just too much to get any really nice pics.  It wasn't long before we spotted three divers in the loch but they were a long long way off, after watching them for a while and taking to a birder with a digi he pointed out that they were Redthroat divers.  Great to see although they kept their distance.

As we started to turn around at the Loch we spotted out first Red Grouse.  We all managed to get some shots but again we were really struggling with Heat Haze.

We headed back to Aviemore where John knew a location for Red Squirrels.  The reds showed well but the back ground and set up wasn't great so I didn't really get anything special but did manage one shot I liked.

It was now getting early evening so it was time for some Pub food.  After eating we met up with Gordon so he could show us the Osprey Hide in advance of the early morning start.  The hide looked great and I was now really excited.  

A very early morning alarm went off at 3.45am :( to get ready for the Ospreys.  By 4.30am we were at the hide where we met Gordon and two other photographers.  By 5.10am the first Osprey was flying around above us so all was looking good.  Ten mins later another Osprey turned up and and made it very clear he was going to dive and some point soon.  The only big problem was it was still dark and even with ISO 1600 I only had a shutter speed of 1/40 :( 

The Osprey dived and I tried for a few shots but as soon as I heard the slow shutter I knew they would be no good.  Oh well it was still very early and the light was getting better every min so we just had to wait for the next one.  A hour past and we hadn't seen another Osprey and nor had Gordon whom was on the look out from the car park.  Whilst waiting I decided to take a few pics of the Grey Wagtail catching minnows from the pool. 

We continued to wait several more hours and still nothing :( looks like they were just not feeding today.  By 8.45am Gordon called it a day as he had not even seen another Osprey flying around.  We couldn't believe it, this was the first time Gordon and his hide had not produced several hits in morning session, trust it to be me.

We were determined not to go home empty handed so after speaking to the other two photographers they told us about a location for Red Grouse.  Looking at the map it looked like a little de-tour which we could take on the way home.  We packed up the gear and headed off in hope of some Red Grouse.  As we drove down a single lane and crossed a bridge, Ken shouted stop, "it was a Otter".  We quickly pulled the car to the side and got the camera's but by the time we looked again it had gone.

Once we arrived at the Grouse location it didn't take too long before I spotted the first Red Grouse, well actually there was a family of about seven of them.  We all got shots and continued to drive slowly and again within 5 mins we spotted more.  This continued for the next two hours so in the end we all got plenty of shots .

It was now time to head home so off we went on the 8 hour drive hour :(

The Highlands is a great place and I will be visiting again in the near future but next time it will have to be for longer than just a weekend.

Little Owls, Kingfisher and Woodpeckers

Ken, John and myself had arranged to visit Mark Hancox site to photograph some kingfishers.  Due to the rain the week before it looked like we were going to miss out on the Kingfishers as the hide had been under water.  We decided mid-week to go anyway and photograph some little owls with the hope that the water levels may fall and allow us to also photograph some Kings.

We met Mark at 7 am and by 8 am we were sitting in pop up hides waiting for the little owls.  We could here a owl calling very close but it did take several hours before they appeared.  At first the adult came down for approx. 10 mins and then one of this years young followed.  It wasn't long before they both left again but we did manage a good 15 mins of photo's.

We continued to sit in the hides in the hope they would show again soon.  Whilst sitting in the hides we had heard a green woodpecker and a spotted on several occasions but they were nowhere in sight.  I heard the green again and a quick scan around and i noticed he was sitting on the posts.  We rattled off a few shots and with John shouting "what are you taking pics of" we also pointed him in the right direction :) 

Then out of the blue a spotted woodpecker landed on the same post for a few split seconds.  I managed to take about 6 shots before the spotted returned to a nearby fallen tree.

This was amazing to see them together and I was chuffed to get the shot.

We sat in the hides for a few more hours in the hope the owls would return but they weren't playing ball.  Mark arrived as planned and we asked if we could photograph the kingfishers and he said yes but the hide was still muddy and wet.  I didn't care as this is what I really wanted as it had been 2 years since I last photographed a kingfisher.

On arrival to the hide Mark was waist deep in the water making sure the BG was clean for us, what a top guy.

I had several shots in mind and in particular the diving shots :)

It was only about 5 mins before the first Kingfisher appeared,  by now the sun was out and it was time to try for the shots I wanted.  Both John and Ken laughed as I was firing off the shots in attempt of the diving shot. It didn't take long before Ken saw some of my attempts and joined in on the fun.

Here are a couple of shots I manged in the end.

It was great fun trying for the dive shots but as they were perching so well at times it would be just rude not to take a few perch shots also.

Mark had explained that the Owls seemed to show well later in the afternoon so we returned to the hides again before leaving.  He was spot on as we only had to wait a hour before the young showed again.

All in all a great day out and one I would recommend to anybody.

Spotted Flycatchers

I visted this site (Napton) last year in the hope of photographing some Spotted flycatchers but I was just a day late :(

After seeing a few pics posted I knew it was time to visit.  Ken and myself arrived early and we had the area to ourselves which was a suprise.  It only took about 30 secs before we spotted a pair of them.  After watching them for a few mins it was obvious that they had a few fav perches, so we et up and started to get a few shots.

It was great to see them flying around and catching insects right infront of us at times.   It wasn't too long before a few other togs turned up and it was great to meet Andy and also Dave Hutton again.

When I returned home and took a look at the images I was not that happy.  They just didn't have the right bg and where just too far away.  Now knowing the place and the behaviour of the birds I decided to give it another go on the Sunday morning.  Ken very nicley let me use his 300mm 2.8 with the 2x which gave me the extra reach I needed.  I concentrated on the particular shots I wanted and I think the results were good. 

All in all a great weekend and another first for me.

Last few weeks

We called into Attenborough nature reserve in the hope of seeing some Whitethroat's.  The area was very quiet compared to last year but I did manage another first for me.

Reed Warbler

The following week I opted to stay local and headed to Cannock Chase to see the Redstarts.  Unfortunately both adults had left the nest site but the resident Nuthatches were still around.

After a few hours we moved location to a old site where I knew the Bullfinches may be around.  It didn't take long before we found them.

More to follow later this weekend.

Busy Times

Again my full time job has not allowed me to post as often as I like but I have been busy at the weekends doing what I really enjoy (Taking photo's)

I made a few more trips to Wales to visit my fav reserve again (Gilfach) and also photograph the stunning Pied Flycatchers.  This time I concentrated on the female.

I did however get a few males too. 

Whilst watching the Pied Flycatchers I heard the sound of a Garden Warbler.  After watching the bushes for some 30 mins it quickly apperared in the open and I managed a quick shot of this hard to photograph bird.

Later that afternoon we decided to visit Gigrin Farm as we were so close and it had been a few years since I last visited.  It is still amazing to see so many kited in one area and also so close.

The news of the Bluethroat at my local reserve meant I had to pop in and see if it was still showing.  When I arrived there had been no sign of it so it looks like I missed this one :(
I did however find some other interesting subjects to photograph.

Fox cubs playing around the den.



A nice display from a Short Eared Owl.

And a Kestrel hovering above.

For the long weekend I headed off to Bempton to see the Gannets with ken and John.  I had never been before so I really didn't know what to expect, but I have to say I loved it :)

I also managed a shot of the Razorbill which was happy to pose for me on the cliff edge. 

The Redstarts at my local Cannock chase were starting to show well so it was time to visit them again. 

Lots more photo's can be seen on my flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgwphotography/

Off out tonight for the start of my new project (Badgers) so hopefully I will have some new pics to share soon, wish me luck as I think I am going to need it. 

Catch up again (Sorry)

It seems I just don't get enough time just of late to keep the blog up to date with work commitments but here goes.

I quick visit to see the dippers in Shropshire and I was glad to see that they were still there again this year, its not the greatest spot for taking pics but its great to see them again.

A very very early start to visit Wales with the aim of getting some shots of the Black Grouse Lekking and it was well worth the early start.  This was the first time I had seen these and it was just great to watch.

From here we continued on our quest to find the Dartford Warblers where we were also met by our good friend Pete.  The Darford showed well and the light was also good so it made for some great photo's.

Since I have been doing so much travelling for work it was decided to stay local at Cannock Chase.  I quick walk around and I managed to find myself a Treecreeper nest and also the first sighting of a Redstart this year.

Another visited to the Chase and I decided it had been too long since I photographed one of my fav birds; the Nuthatch. 

Ohh and a few shots of a Robin that just wouldn't leave us alone.

I was working in Wales so I didn't need another reason to try for the Black Grouse again.  The only problem was the fog :(

As the fog cleared I did manage a few Wheatear's though before leaving to get to the job site.

The weather forecast was good so where was I going to go???  Well I choose my fav place of all time and headed off to Wales again.  I had seen photo's of the Pied flycatchers so was hoping for a good day; well what can i say,,,  When you have Pied flycatchers feeding out of your hand you really can't moan.

We also managed to get some nice pics of the Siskin and Redpolls.

In the afternoon we headed off to get some shots of the Red Kites.  I have been after a certain shot now for some time and still to get it but I will keep trying until I do. 

Well thats it.  I will try to keep a more updated blog in the future.