Eric & Lesley's Wildlife Blog - Wildscotphotos

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.

Sweden in Spring

6/5/2019

Just back from a very satisfying short trip to Sweden. Mostly we were photographing birds which are present in Scotland, however, for some species opportunities are better there. These include the two Diver species (Red-throated and Black-throated) and the two Grebe species (Great Crested and Slavonian). These and Osprey were targets.
One bird that we had seen before but hadn't photographed before was the Ural Owl. We photographed one by the road and another which was flushed during the ringing programme for this species. The Ural Owl is an impressive Owl with a huge range, all the way from Norway to Japan.

A Surprising Swimmer

22/4/2019

The tide is an important factor to be aware of as a wildlife photographer. I am lucky enough to have a hide on a tide line. However, so that it is never swept away it has to be placed for the highest tides. At most, these are once a month for two or three consecutive days. In March, there was one usable day but in April we had two days of the perfect height - enough to immerse the landscape in front of the hide but not too much or the birds will go past. Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin and Godwits all fed close by.
One view I sometimes get is of waders swimming. I have seen Knot swimming but most often it is the commoner Redshank crossing a flooded stream. They look comical, concentrating on getting to the other side quickly.

All's Well that Ends Well

26/3/2019

Every year I spend time in the winter following the local Dippers. This time it was different. Usually I see them every visit but it was not until the fifth visit that I was informed that there had been a pollution incident. Whilst I was devastated by the news, at least it explained why I wasn't seeing them. Usually they are displaying in January, giving a chance of a picture.
However, in late February a bird was first seen then it was obviously a pair. From a selfish point of view that was excellent since we now had nearly two months of extra light to record their activities. This bird, pictured, is displaying to its partner which is flying towards it. I felt privileged to witness the courtship.

February Skylarks

27/2/2019

Out to the coast in warm sunshine on a February day - who would have thought it! And to add to the feeling of Spring, we found singing Skylarks filling the sky with song then descending to feed on the grassy ground below (as this one pictured shows). Its easy to understand how the New Zealand colonists missed the song so much they introduced them to the new country. We only have to do without for a few months and we still miss that joyful sound.
There were also pairs of Stonechats in the dune grasses flying from perch to perch. Fulmars seemed to be picking their nesting ledges too. We found Oystercatchers on the beach, but also inland in fields already anticipating spring.

A Covert Sighting

11/2/2019

Its a no-brainer that birds have different strategies for survival. The Treecreeper has a pretty extreme strategy - it tries not to get noticed any time, any place. It does this by living in a woodland where it mimics a bit of branch. In going for the invisible option , even it's call cannot be heard by some older humans and is pretty faint at the best time. The rest of the time it imitates a bit of tree branch which is does expertly.
In winter they can be attracted to food - either something oily on a branch or even on the ground. With repeated visits they can be more accommodating and stay longer. Such was the case yesterday with this confiding individual.

The King

14/1/2019

I know its a bit presbyterian but I like to work hard at getting pictures. I assume that I will have hardship - long waits in cold or rather hot conditions with much frustration along the way. That's usually the case but not always.
Occasionally a subject doesn't follow the script. This kingfisher has been much admired by regular walkers, families with children and the like. For some, it is probably the first kingfisher they have ever seen and for others the previous sighting would have been the famous blue streak.
I am wary of situations with other keen photographers but I need not have worried. Not too many turned up and everyone left satisfied with their views of this male who performed for everyone, regularly catching sticklebacks in front of our eyes in a decidedly urban setting.

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.

Consequences

14/12/2018

Birds don't all make the same decisions. This seems trivial but can have mortal consequences. This Mistle Thrush has been basically living in the same tree for some time. It intends to stay for another month or two or until the berries are gone. It defends the bush from all comers, in particular other thrushes. It has made a decision and, as a result, is forced to endure the fact that it is an urban area. Humankind pass by close and cars too, honking their horns and such like. It must be stoic and stay put.
We heard about a different Mistle Thrush defending a berry bush in a similar situation. One day, the Sparrowhawk came along and killed it. The berries disappeared within two days from the Blackbirds.