Pack Horse Splendour
There is little doubt that the Pack Horse bridge at Carrbridge, in the Spey valley, is one of the finest in Scotland. I have always wanted to view it in its Autumn colours and last week it was exceptional. Built 304 years ago and almost washed away in 1829 it has stood the test of […]
Another Wryneck
Its hard to believe but you wait 70 years to see your first Wryneck and in the space of a month two turn up in Lancashire! The second one was found on the moors to the east of Burnley and as I was impressed with the first one I decided to chance my luck with […]
Heron’s Reflections
During all the hot, sunny and calm weather of couple of weeks ago I visited some lakes in Yorkshire to film Herons with mirror reflections. I was a not disappointed and this weeks blog shows one with a small Pike in its bill. Whilst by the waterside I was also able to film some Yellow […]
Spot The Moult
This weeks blog photo is of a male Long Eared Owl still actively hunting to provide food for his now fully fledged young. At some point in time he has to moult all his flight feathers and if you look carefully at his fifth primary feathers, on both wings, they are only partly grown. It […]
Heading South
When Ospreys arrived in Britain this year it was late March and lockdown had just begun. It meant that they could settle down to breed in our countryside without disturbance from human beings. The result has been a record number of 300 pairs breeding this year and most have been successful. Ironically one of the […]
A Mega Twitch
I have never considered myself a twitcher but during the last week I have spent fifteen hours on the Pennine moors looking for an illusive bird called a Wryneck. Its a bird that I have never seen before and breeds in the forests of Scandinavia and sometimes in the highlands of Scotland. Its cryptic plumage […]
Sand Martin’s Success
The fabulous weather that we had during the beginning of lockdown came just as the first Sand Martins were arriving locally. A high sandy bank was dug on my local stream and was an instant attraction and by the end of the first period of lockdown fifty pairs had reared young in this bank. This […]
Eating Egg – Shells
The moment a birds eggs hatch is a very dangerous time for lots of birds especially Hawks, Owls and Nightjars. Any egg-shells left around the nest would give the nest away to predators like Crows and Foxes. The incubating bird does not want to leave its newly emerged young so there is only one alternative […]
Awaiting The Guns
Whilst on the high tops this week I came across this small party of Red Grouse. The date was the 10th August and I wonder now how many of this group are still alive after the commencement of shooting on the 12th. Sadly some Gamekeepers clear out all forms of raptors from the moor to […]
Moorland Surprises
During this shortened breeding season I have spent many hours in the hills, mainly waiting for Long Eared Owls to perform. In wildlife photography there are lots of surprise encounters while you are out in the wilds – all unplanned. This weeks Gallery is devoted to just such encounters. It includes a Skylark resting o […]