Archive for March, 2025

With Spring days upon us now is the time to re-visit old Barn Owl breeding sites and hope that luck is with you. Some of the males only come out at dusk and fewer still will hunt at first light which is the best option for a photograph. Like all wildlife photography your results are directly proportional to the time that you put in and of course sods law always works against you. In perfect conditions he will not perform whereas on foul days he will fly over your heads!! Good luck! www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife

One of the attractions of a stay at Rivercatcher is that you are close to the Welsh pine-forests where Crossbills like to breed. Unfortunately most of my encounters with them have involved young males who do not possess the spectacular red adult plumage. As compensation you may wish to visit Wales highest waterfall Pistyll Rhaeadr which is to be found deep in the Berwyn mountains.www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife

When you have been photographing birds of prey for more than fifty years the challenge eventually is not the bog standard photo but the food-pass photo – that split second moment when the prey is passed from the male to either the female or the young. Your failure rate is extreme – either they have their backs to you or their eyes are closed(for protection).
Hen Harriers pass their prey in mid air. Barn Owls pass prey direct to their young but with Long Eared Owls the male is more selective. He will pass prey to the young directly if they have left the nest otherwise he will only pass prey to the female. In today’s blog photo the male is waiting for the female to take the vole ! directly off him but she is still feeding the young and he will have to wait until she is ready!

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