Kingfisher

Last week I travelled up to Galloway to visit the Kingfisher hide belonging to Alan McFadyen, a superb facility where he has a reflection pool set up adjacent to the river, it was a real pleasure to watch and photograph this stunning female Kingfisher fishing in the pool.

Short Eared Owl

Every now and again there comes along a Wildlife encounter that will live long in my memory, and this is one that certainly will.
Last Friday I set out in the hope of photographing a Short Eared Owl that was hunting on coastal land not far from home, I would have been completely satisfied with some nice flight shots, what I didn't expect was to be sat 15 yards away from it perched up for over half an hour.
Almost immediately after arriving as I was still getting the camera ready, the Owl was out and hunting over the long grass, just out of range for quality images but still ok as I was still flapping about trying to get the tripod up etc.
It was quite a windy morning which was making it difficult for the bird and it perched on a post about 100 yards away. I made the decision to try and get a bit closer, and over the next 10 minutes I literally  crawled through the long grass, getting closer and closer, and by the time I was 20 yards away I was wet through but had a great view of it.
It was so relaxed in my presence, it was continually dozing off, but when it opened them big yellow eyes.....wow!!  Anyway I got the shots that I wanted and then spent a long time just admiring and enjoying this stunning bird in the time it afforded me before it was off into the distance.

Out and about in October

I am sure the older you get the quicker the years seem to fly by, cannot believe that its the 1st of November tomorrow and the silly season is just around the corner.... bah humbug!
Anyway October has been a good month with the camera, getting out photographing the Red Deer rut has been great, the first big high tides of the Autumn down at Parkgate gave good views of Short Eared Owls, I have spent some time down on the beach at Criccieth photographing Turnstones, and one of my favourites those ever so cute Red Squirrels.
Also the Autumn is such a colourful time of the year, and I have visited Nant Mill Woods a couple of times, the woodland floor is carpeted with
Bit of a mixed bunch but thats how it rolls at the moment, but as winter approaches I view it with great anticipation as new photographic opportunities appear..... lots to look at happy viewing :-)

























A little Weasel and Shrew escaping the incoming tide at Parkgate







































and those beautiful Autumn colours





















and a few random shots from the last couple of weeks