The Light Fantastic

It was one of those days when all my best made plans went down the drain. My original intention was to finish up at Blackpool's North Pier to investigate the Starling roost after having a look around the Fylde. Things started to go wrong soon after leaving the motorway when I encountered one traffic incident hold up after another, three in total with one hefty detour that eventually found me at Fluke Hall lane at a quarter past one, that after setting out at just gone ten in the morning.
I had my lunch overlooking the mud flats at low water and although it was good to be out of the car there was no reason to disturb the camera resting on the passenger seat.
Then I set off for Blackpool but as I entered the resort I was again engulfed in horrendous traffic, a sense of foreboding came over me and I couldn't wait to get out of the place, this feeling was encouraged by the astronomical parking fees on display. Soon I was on the M56 heading for home, but at the junction to the M6 I had a brainstorm - "Why not go to Leighton Moss" after all I was half way there.
So eventually I entered the Eric Morecambe hide in late afternoon. Things can only get better I thought and they did.
The hide was surprisingly full, but I bumped into Paul Foster a friend of Brian Rafferty, we had a good chin-wag in between taking shots of a Little Egret that was showing well right outside the hide. Paul went off to photograph the deer, and one by one people left the hide to head for home. I was in no hurry to leave as sunset was looming fast, and this was going to be a good-un.
I took some shots in wonderful golden light, but the most stunning light came after the sun dipped over the horizon, illuminating the birds in all kinds of extraordinary hues. As darkness approached the waders gathered into groups and quietened down with just the occasional call that echoed and reverberated around in the stillness. It was in a word magical - I think I tripped The Light Fantastic.

Bird Watching

The best place in the world to eat your fish and chips overlooking the harbour at Seahouses, but be warned, you will have plenty of company.

Second Home

Back from my third trip to Northumberland this year. The place is like a good malt whisky it gets better with age.

Coquetdale was as expected pretty much on the quiet side, but boy did I need a rest, that said I had a few trips to the seaside Cresswell was good for Sanderling in particular, nothing much on the pond, although I believe a Glossy Ibis turned up on Saturday, missed that one, there are plenty in the country though so maybe one will return to Lancashire.

I have rented a cottage at North Brewick situated right on the harbour next April, so I nipped up to have a gander at it, while I was there took the opportunity to photograph the Gannets off the cliffs at the back of the Seabird center. The birds were dive bombing all around, although never close enough for a top shot, but food for thought next time there.

Then there was good old Seahouses the run of mill waders were scattered on the rocks, but what took my eye was four Bar-tailed Godwits feeding opposite the entrance to the beach. I was frustrated on the Sunday, it was a gorgeous day and as you would expect the beach was packed resulting in the birds constantly being unsettled. I gave up in the end but returned for a couple of hours late on Friday, the light was fantastic and with only a few dog walker around I had another crack at them. I approached slowly, five steps, stop for a minute, five steps stop for a minute, they never stopped feeding which is always a good sign, it meant the Godwits were contented and not bothered by my approach, eventually I was in a position to get almost full frame exposures. I knelt in the wet sand hand holding the camera and was transported to heaven as I clicked away.

Getting close to nature like this gives me a great deal of pleasure, far more than shooting from a hide and the slowly slowly approach seems to work a treat.

On my way to Seahouses I passed a Kestrel feeding on a fence post, I turned round at the first opportunity and returned, it was still there, but on my drivers side, I once again turned the car round and after setting the camera up returned once more driving ever so slowly and at a distance where I could get a shot and hopefully not disturb the Kestrel I switched off the engine and turned the car at right angles to the road. Perfect, the only thing was cars were approaching from in front and behind, quickly I picked up the camera and managed only two shots before the on coming car blasted his horn at me to get out of the road, The Kestrel flew off prey in talon as I switched on my engine and righted the car in accordance with the Highway Code. I waved at the gent as we passed, he waved back with two fingers. Strange!!! Now where's that malt whisky.

A Web of Intrigue

Speckled Wood






Painted Lady

Small Tortoiseshell

Garden Spider

I have been committed to work over the past week, and wouldn't you know it summer makes a glorious return. DRAT!!! Not to worry Saturday dawned well and I desperately needed some fresh air, but before I left home I had to try and photograph a garden spider that had built a fabulous web in my patio. I played about with a macro lens I seldom use, as I manually focused and hand held I wasn't expecting anything good to come from the shoot, but I have to say that I am quite pleased with the results.

Then I set off to Martin Mere. Nothing of interest to photograph, I was hoping for some pink-foots, and although a few did land they were too far away to get anything decent, so I turned my attention to the butterflies in the vicinity.

Then I went Mere Sands Wood and immediately bumped into Jackie and David Moreton both photographers and ended up putting the world to rights without taking another shot.

But it was so good to be out.

A "Reedie" Meal

I briefly called into a spot were lots of reed warblers had been around during the summer months. It was late August and was surprised to find a pair still feeding young. The hunting habits of the parents held me captive for more than three hours, and it was a challenge trying to capture the scene as they flitted at a rate of knots amongst the vegetation. One interesting observation - the reed warbler would attack the hover-flies knocking them into the water, after a brief struggle they would surccumb, then the warbler would collect them in twos and threes before taking the lunch basket back to its young.

A Fruitful Day

I was invited up to a farm by Steve Dolan, that belongs to his mate ( I never new he had two .......ha ha ha). Anyhow he reckoned that Little Owls were breading in the orchard by the farm house, so eventually I got myself round there.

My first visit produced only fleeting glimpses of the owls but a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker put in a brief appearance as did a Whitethroat. However, a second visit proved more fruitful ( excuse the pun ) as both parents and juveniles were quite active. From a photographic point of view the dappled light although good proved to be problematic, but after a four hour stint I got what are to date my best images of these delightful creatures.

The Farnes (Better Late than Never)

A few belated shots from the Farne Islands, I'm working between two computers at the moment transferring files, so I have to unplug one and plug in the other to get connected, complicated but I'll get there in the end.

The images are of the peoples favorite the Puffin and the incredible Guillemot who lay their eggs on bare rock in extremely exposed positions it beggars belief how they survive.