Islay re-visited
We have just returned from two weeks on Islay, mainly to establish outlets for the sale of the DVD. There are now six places where the DVD can be bought. It was also given a superb review in the local Islay newspaper, more about that later. During the fortnight on Islay we had everything from […]
Wildlife Gems of Islay – DVD Movie
After a Winters work the DVD ‘The Wildlife Gems of Islay’ is now available for sale. For those of you who don’t know, Islay is part of the Inner Hebrides, off the West Coast of Scotland and is inhabited by approximately 3200 people. It has eight working whisky distilleries, stunning scenery, amazing wildlife and friendly […]
A Touch of Scarlet
At last some better weather this week. I climbed up to the high Pennine tops and spent a good three hours with the Mountain Hares. Saw at least a dozen different individuals and finally found two in their forms that allowed a close approach and some good video was had. Unfortunately they don’t do anything […]
A Welcome Splash of Winter Colour
January has come and gone with less than one hour of sunshine per day – one of the dullest Januarys on record. Its a good job I don’t need sunshine on video! A day out in Bowland produce Sparrowhawks, Kestrels, Goosanders, Woodcocks but no Eagle Owls. Over our house on the first February was a […]
Caught in the Act
Well it had to happen – the male Sparrowhawk returned and caught a Starling on our lawn. It was a gruesome event, with the Starling still alive for ten minutes as it was being eaten. I filmed it from twenty feet through the window in the house but how could I ever show it? I […]
Rain rain and more rain
With more than two inches of rain in the last seven days and only four hours of sunshine no filming has been possible. On Hopwood, on three separate days , Woodcock have been flushed. However The remains of a Woodcock by some fox droppings were also found and predation from foxes must be quite common. […]
Goldfinch Spectacular
Another wet and cold week with very few days available for photography I spent a morning in a friends garden filming up to five Bramblings that had been feeding for more than a week. It’s typical doing this job that as soon as you are in position to film anything something unplanned happens ie. builders […]
First Snow of the Winter
Although to late for Christmas we had our first sprinkling of snow this week which made the Robins more seasonal looking. It also brought into our garden two Reed Buntings for their first visit of the Winter together with a male Siskin. The return of milder weather brought both Mistle and Song Thrush into full […]
Happy New Year To All
Since last week the frosty Winter weather finally disappeared after the 23rd. On that day a Woodcock was flushed on Hopwood and six Snipe from the stream. Christmas Day produced mild, misty conditions and a Green Woodpecker was feeding in the mist. The Sparrowhawk was active in the garden again with a Starling producing a […]
Happy Christmas To All
A fantastic week of Winter frosts, every night with a low of minus eight degrees on the twenty first. At last Jack Snipe have turned up in their regular wintering places that they use in severe frosts with one at Tandle and the other at Hopwood for two consecutive days. These areas never freeze over […]