Eric & Lesley's Wildlife Blog - Wildscotphotos

Midwinter

11/1/2021

Following on from last post I am trying to take advantage of fleeting opportunities for pictures with a wintry feel. At the start of the year we had lots of frosty nights, however, the frost usually disappeared before I dared venture out on the icy roads. Very frustrating since the cold bring lots of visitors to the tasty treats.
Then, belatedly we had a little snow (now gone). This was my opportunity. Red Squirrels are constant companions at my feeding site, nevertheless, it was heartening to grab a picture in snow. Usually they deploy a smash-and-grab technique, never pausing for a picture, but with persistence, I managed to get a pleasing view in glorious winter light.

Close Encounters of the Brock Kind

15/10/2020

Last week we got away for a week in the west of Scotland, in Ardnamurchan. Ardnamurchan is a place we had visited before but some decades ago! The use of single track roads has changed little, in fact it did seem quite familiar. At this time of the year it is a beautiful place enhanced by mountains which rise close to sea level - and close to the observer.
Like other before, we hoped to get pictures of Pine Marten, which we did, although not as great as I hoped due to naff backdrops and then them not coming at all in the second half of the week.
Compensation was provided by close encounters of the badger kind on our personal wildlife channel.

A Prickly Customer

24/9/2020

Because we live inland all our breeding migrants are gone. The winter arrivals are just beginning but there are other subtle changes afoot.
There are a small number of species that are more often seen dead than alive. Badger is one, Hedgehog is another. Mostly Hedgehogs are nocturnal but before and after hibernation they can certainly be active during the day. This one, in two separate days, came trundling in from the scrub to forage in front of my little hide. As far as I could tell it seemed pretty fat but, for a Hedgehog, I guess it's never too much when your life depends on plenty of reserves.

Stoat(al) Suprise

21/8/2020

The coast is where it's at just now. I had a productive session yesterday with waders in my tidal hide. Large numbers of Curlew (heartening) and Redshank. The number are building; some will be young birds and some failed breeders. The number will swell further soon with migrants and breeders.
However at the woodland hide its been very quiet, so much so that I was going to stop feeding for a while. However, the most recent visit was entertaining. Not too much had happened when I heard the Blackbird alarming. Then the Robin began to tick. I waited quietly, watching the other birds. After about 5 minutes the small birds seemed to be going back to feeding normally. I was on the point of leaving when this Stoat appeared and raced up the tree.
It then ran about excitedly so I tried to follow with the lens. It couldn't see me but it could see the lens moving hence the opportunity to see it rise up. A lot of fun.

At The Match

28/5/2020

It pays to have friends. People you trust and trust you. Recently I got a tip-off that two hares were in a field, close to home and were sometimes boxing. So I set off with camera in car and waited by the edge. Perhaps unfortunately we had some weather that day. Basically strong winds were blowing rain into the car on the side I had to sit whilst awaiting the action. As a result, I had to periodically take the camera kit inside the car and hope that I could shoot in between the worst of the weather.
In the end I got some pictures and was pleased to see that the rain enhance the images. The smaller male (Jack) Hare is on the right of the picture. After I left, a third Hare came so he would likely have to up his game even further. Although I have seen boxing Hare before, the only pictures I have were on transparency film so it was great to get some fresh footage.

Small is Beautiful

21/12/2019

Not long back from a trip to Thailand. Lots of birds photographed (some fairly well!). A lot of the photography was in shaded situations requiring the best equipment to deal with the low light levels.
However, we also encountered this little beauty. It's a Lesser Mouse Deer; it is the smallest hoofed animal in the world, weighing up to 2 kg. It inhabits quite dark forest where it moves around furtively, as if terrified of what is around. Highly strung.
We were in a hide photographing birds at the time when two of them appeared in the background. From the sniffing that was going on I would say that there were a pair.

A Project Fulfilled

14/6/2019

Increasingly we take pleasure from not travelling too far for wildlife images. There are always species that gnaw at our brains because they should be possible, if difficult, but not yet achieved. Such was the case with Badger. We have photographed them here and there in the UK but not close to home and always thanks to someone else who has carried out the fieldwork.
Last year we set ourselves the task of getting Badger pictures - we failed. The sites we chose either had no Badgers or they emerged too long after dark. This year started in the same vein, however in June it changed and suddenly it didn't seem the impossible dream. We had a site that was sufficiently private and the Badgers were comfortable enough to emerge with a little light remaining. The relief and joy is overpowering.

Furry Friend

27/5/2019

Some visitors to the hide are unsurprisingly seasonal. Examples are migrant birds which only appear in the warmer months in contrast to Long-tailed Tits which are generally confined to winter.
Rabbits, however only appear in the afternoon. Both last year and this year rabbits have occasionally been sighted from the hide. The one that is regular this year seems very young and so sweet.
Who would have thought that rabbits could become rare but they are declining due to diseases. As well as myxomatosis there are newer diseases that are affecting them. I am sure I would miss them if they disappeared from our countryside.

Hare Today

26/1/2019

I don't really make New Years resolutions as regards wildlife photography - the target species are the same as the last ten years. I'm too embarrassed to state the species but a little progress has been made on all three. None are rare but all difficult in different ways.
Anyway, this year I have resolved to spend quite a bit of time on the local mammals. Brown Hare will hopefully feature and I expect that the best results will be in a couple of months time. I was therefore so pleased to be able to settle fairly close to this Hare and wait. After not too long it stirred and had a good stretch before cantering about and then settling down again. Result all round.

Hebrides for Otter

30/12/2018

Last week we had a little adventure, visiting the inner Hebrides for some R & R and to be in a more remote and wilder countryside for Christmas. Mostly we drove around to see what we fouls find. In the event there was lots to enjoy from Eagles to three species of diver, to the thousands of yelping geese, Barnacle and White-fronted. Then there were the Deer, Red and Roe.
The undoubted highlight came with the three sightings of Otter although each was in fairly poor light. Today's equipment can deal with that situation much better then the equipment of yester year. Time spent watching Otter is always quality time. This one caught crabs, otherwise drifted along the shoreline investigating each kelp bed for tasty morsels.