Eric & Lesley's Wildlife Blog - Wildscotphotos

The Return of Ratty

31/7/2021

Travel is still fraught with stress at the moment but when I was invited to join a friend who lives in SE England I took up the offer of "getting away". I'm glad I did.
The insect fauna was quite different from what I usually see. For example the Hoverflies; I ended up ordering the Hoverflies of Britain to try to photograph then identify more of them. However, our main targets were a bird, Little Owl, and a mammal, Water Vole. The vole seems to making a bit of a comeback so we were delighted to be able to view at a private pond. Due to fluctuating water levels they were not as predictable as hoped (when is wildlife?). Through a fair bit of patience I was able to secure a selection of pictures of this, most charming, indigenous mammal.

Butterfly Time

8/7/2021

It's July now and the birds are off the menu. They have no reason to show themselves unless they have a second brood. The vegetation is as high as an elephant's eye. Insects are the order of the day.
Technically there's a challenge that comes with insects. Because they are so small there's little depth of field. Sometimes that's a good thing - a long telephoto exploits that fact. However with macro you have difficulty in getting even the whole insect in focus. With butterflies that results in two styles of picture. Top view or side view. In this way the whole subject is in the same plane. This is a Northern Brown Argus, a local species. The subject has chosen to offer me the side view.

On Reflection

30/6/2021

Sometimes I take pictures and sometimes I make pictures. I have set up a little reflection pool. Small, yes, but quite a lot of work to put it together. The longer that we have a dry spell the more it will attract wildlife to drink and bathe. Seed-eating birds like Finches need to drink regularly so there must be enough puddle to keep then going. So far it has been fairly quiet, just Chaffinch and the odd Siskin.
Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker are fairly regular visitors. I have had one visit from a young Woodpecker but this is the male having a good drink.

The Joy of Terns

15/6/2021

We have just returned from a trip to the far North East of Scotland. (Foreign trips are currently suspended.) There was much to enjoy.
The seabird cities of the north coast were alive with noise and the joy and the smell of the breeding season. As far as I could tell food for chicks was not a problem here.
Since I like to work from hides it was great to be able to photograph Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns from the safety of hides. In the case of the Arctics it was my safety!
This is a Sandwich Tern returning to the colony. Birds in the flight are so much easier now with modern kit. I often say that it is only the kit that is improving. A tiny bit self-deprecating since I believe that it it is what you carry in your head that makes the difference.

Dotterel Encounter

30/5/2021

Some birds need a special approach. Dotterel is one to point. They winter in North Africa then return to our shores in May. Shores is not really accurate since they are a plover of high ground. They migrate through traditional lower hills before getting to the high tops.
It is said that they are very approachable. My take is that this is not the whole story. Care must be taken.
Dotterel are what is called Schedule 1 which means that it is an offence to disturb them near to the nest or when they have dependent young. For that reason, I simply leave them alone. I only look for them when they first arrive. Over the years I have noted that I see them more often on wet Springs. I believe the reason is that the wetness produces food for them. In dry Springs they move through quickly to find food elsewhere. The picture opposite is the brighter, more marked female bird.

New Technology

13/5/2021

Camera equipment is developing all the time and I am happy to take advantage. Quicker focus, tracking and the ability to take lots of images in a scattergun approach to get a result are all on the table.
I was by the river and watching the Sand Martins flying around. I guessed that they were feeding but I could not see any prey.
I decided to have a go and banged away with motor drive, frame after frame. Back at base there was much to throw away but I struck lucky with this images. Not only was the Sand Martin in reasonable focus but I could also see a fly just ahead. No doubt it was about to be eaten.

Badger Watch

25/4/2021

Another season begins so I have checked out the Badger sett. It looks like it is still active. I never want to assume all is well. This year I have begun earlier in the hope of seeing youngsters, especially if they are playful and confiding. Who wouldn't?
Starting earlier has brought a bonus. My woodland is dominated by Beech trees, however they have not yet leafed up so the penetration of light into the woodland is better at the moment. Later in the year I will be aware that, at a session end, the light levels raise significantly when exiting the woodland and the green canopy. At the moment I still have enough light until about 10 minutes after dusk. Its a huge advantage when you only want to shoot with available light.
I'm excited to see what 2021 will bring. Roll on.

A Start to Spring Bird Migration

12/4/2021

We currently have a run of bright, but very cold days with overnight frosts. Perhaps bird migration is slower than normal but there have been a few sightings. As well as the expected Chiffchaff we have seen Blackcap, Wheatear and yesterday our first Common Sandpiper which felt a bit early.
Today we returned to the area we saw it, hoping to see the Osprey we missed the day before but no luck there. However we did see three Sandpipers. Luckily one was on the right side of the river for photography. Before it appeared I was cursing the only cloud in the sky hovering over us, but once I was on the bird I was thankful of the softer light. I was able to lean over the edge to fill the frame. Initially the bird was roosting but it woke up and started moving after a second Sandpiper flew by, calling.

New Life

26/3/2021

Its officially Spring and the season of growth and new life. The resident birds are singing, holding territory and nest building. The Red Squirrels are still up for freebie nuts.
However, I have been captivated by the age old spectacle of Frogs spawning. Ponds are my first love so I decide to collect some spawn and raise a few tadpoles at home. The small ball I collected had hundreds of yet-to-hatch tadpoles so I have had to return quite a few so I don't overload the tank. This picture is quite early on before the spawn had expanded. Each little life is encased in its own cell. At present they have all hatched with few casualties. Watch this space.

The Seed Thief

12/3/2021

When you put out food for wildlife I always say that you have limited control over what comes next. That's why, as well as standard feeders there are reinforced one to restrict what gets the food. I have a Squirrel box with flap lid to feed the Red Squirrels, however, particularly when it is full, al sorts of visitors favour it such as Blackbird and Nuthatch. I believe that this is because the peanuts require no work and can be taken away to safety for consumption.
That said, I was getting confused about the seed feeder emptying so fast until today I found a visitor with a big appetite. A Roe Doe gingerly approached and took her fill of the seed, all the while taking glances in my direction. Clearly she neither saw nor, more surprisingly, smelt me. The Seed Thief unmasked. What a surprise!