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

Sparrowhawk and Red Deer

One bird that I have ever only managed rushed snap shots of is the Sparrowhawk, so it was with great excitement that I had the opportunity to photograph a stunning male Sparrowhawk that has been regularly visiting a hide in Galloway, South West Scotland.
On the two visits I made it was an amazing experience to see this stunning bird relatively close up, and to be able to photograph it happily feeding.















We are now in one of my favourite times of the year, as I patiently wait for my favourite Whooper Swans to return, I am kept occupied by stunning Red Deer stags rutting, and there is no better place to watch this spectacle than Tatton Park, Cheshire. And the best time of day is very much at firest light, on a stunning misty morning that makes it even more magical.















And a bit of video from both visits

Sparrowhawk

Red Deer Stag mud wallowing