Eric & Lesley's Wildlife Blog - Wildscotphotos

Velvet Beauties

13/1/2020

If someone asked me what the most difficult habitat to photograph birds I would say woodland. The light is often difficult and you have the problem of not seeing the wood for the trees.
However, on reflection perhaps the sea is a bigger challenge, certainly when working from solid ground. The problem is simple - you need the wildlife to approach you. There's no easy answer but studying tide tables putting in the time and visiting repeatedly gets some results. Here we found a flock of Velvet Scoters feeding and socialising just offshore. Getting this close happens less than annually. They will be around for another couple of months but likely that's it for this year.

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 wit 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.

Fast Water, Slow Shutter

11/11/2019

We have routines so it was time to visit our go-to place for Dipper. The Dippers are present but not giving great views at the moment. However it has still been profitable to go there.
On the first visit we heard a Wren making an unusual call. Remarking upon it, I turned around to see a female Sparrowhawk in the shrubbery. It had made a kill (turns out it was a Jay) and was busy feeding.
On the third visit we saw a Kingfisher. Perhaps it will get more approachable but, no matter, we have patience on our side.
But on the second visit we discovered a Heron below a waterfall. The water was flowing fast so we were able to make a more interesting picture by deploying a show shutter speed and using the trip to keep the camera steady.

The Bald One

12/10/2019

Last month we made a shortish trip to Morocco. After landing in Marrakesh we travelled east close to the border with Algeria. This gave us an opportunity to spend a day in the Sahara where the bird life is adapted to Desert - Desert Sparrow, Desert Warbler, Desert Wheatear. You get the picture. Later we travelled west, across the whole breadth of the country to Agadir. There we found the highlight of the trip - the Northern Bald Ibis (pictured). Once widespread through much of Europe, hence alternative name of Waldrapp, it became confined to a small area around Agadir. Conservation efforts in Morocco and elsewhere have brought it back from the brink. It is merely "Endangered" now. This one is an adult walking though the scrub and feeding. Much of the food comprise snails.

What's in a Name?

17/9/2019

Autumn is underway. Cold starts, pleasantly warm day and little rain at the moment. There's plenty of food around for birds. Winter visitors to add to the bounty eater have yet to appear. The hide area is quiet. Even the Squirrel are uncommonly see; I hope they have not become road casualties.
I recently had a Song Thrush visit. In fact there was an adult(pictured) and a young bird. Often I hear but don't see them but this one came to take a sip of water. The Song Thrush has been also called Mavis, first noted in Chaucer. Throstle is also used for the Song Thrush and the Mistle Thrush. However in some parts of Scotland the Mistle Thrush is referred to as Mavis. The Mistle Thrush is also known as Stormcock but that's another story.

A mixed Day

8/9/2019

There were large tides at the start of the month so I got ready and went to my hide on the East coast. The forecast had been for clearing weather around or just after high tide and so it proved. However, it also predicted it would be very windy and unfortunately that was also correct. This can affect the behaviour of the birds but worse, it also affected the height of the tide; as a result it didn't come far enough to properly flood in front of me. I had to content myself with taking flight shots of birds, mainly Curlew.
When it was time to leave I checked and found an Osprey sitting on a post just outside the hide. (I wish it was a more attractive post). Slowly and very carefully I pulled the camera in from the front and slid it out the side of the hide. The bird stayed for a couple of photos before it flew towards me and over the hide. A nice ending to the visit,

Hill Start

25/8/2019

For health reasons we have avoided hills for almost a year. Yesterday we put it to the test and passed. Aching knees but that's par for the course. Despite the weather being sunny and bright below us we battled against a fairly strong wind and constant cloud. At one point the cloud base was below us - a warning sign.
Nevertheless, we enjoyed good views of Mountain Hare until they quickly move off. With good reason - a eagle was circling overhead being mobbed by Ravens. Searching all the rocky runs eventually proved successful when we "bumped into" a pair of Ptarmigan. By being patient we were able to get a decent picture and leave them in the same place we found them Rather satisfactory day.

Summer Warbler

3/7/2019

I spend a lot of time at my little hide. Why? Because I enjoy it. There are around seven regular birds I see almost every time. These are a challenge to see whether I can show them in a different light. Of course it is a pleasure to get a window into their lives whether it results in a picture or not. Then there are the more irregular visitor. For the past couple of months I have heard Blackcap frequently but he is only very rarely interested in the food. Sometimes one comes to bathe.
This time it neither drank, bathed or feed. It just appeared and allowed me to enjoy it. That's why I spend so much time; for these few moments.

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.