Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that my favourite Pennine bird is the Long Eared Owl.It is an illusive bird and only appears in daylight when there are young to feed. During the last month I have spent countless hours hidden away hoping he passes by within reach of my camera. So enjoy this weeks Gallery photos of the same hunting male and you will note his ear-tufts lie flat on his head when he is in this mode. www.gordon-yates.com
The other week I spent some time in a wooded Clough near Uppermill listening to a singing Wood Warbler. It was still there yesterday, singing its head off trying to attract a mate – to no avail. In recent times nine out of every ten male Wood Warblers fail to attract a female and therefore fail to breed. No one knows why this is – not even Chris Packham!!! Gallery photos www.gordon-yates.com
With wildlife photography you never know what will emerge in front of the camera. As you sit waiting for your intended subject something else may present itself that is far more exciting than your intended subject. I was in the hills recently waiting for a Little owl to appear. Before it arrived a Jay flew in and proceeded to extract Acorns out of a bank that it had hidden away in Autumn. At the same time a male Partridge, escorting his female, walked through the rushes below my car. All bonuses as the Little Owl never showed!! Gallery photos www.gordon-yates.com
In early Spring,during all the good weather, I spent a lot of time in the Ribble Valley. I was there looking for day hunting Barn Owls but during that time I was able to see and find lots of other wildlife. This weeks gallery includes a yawning Little Owl, a hunting Short Eared Owl, a Red Grouse, a white Pheasant, lots of Barn Owls and a newly emerged female Adder. Gallery see www.gordon-yates.com
Every Spring, across the high Pennines, there is a passage of Wheatears that are slightly bigger and better coloured than the normal Wheatears. I recently came across one that gave me some reasonable photos before it headed off north. Every time I see a Greenland Wheatear I wonder whether it was one of those birds that I filmed in the North East Greenland National Park all those years ago? I am always wishing that it would take me with it to that very special place! Gallery photos www.gordon-yates.com
In the years 1955 to 1959, during the Bury July Wakes week, I would find myself on holiday on Anglesey. These were halcyon days when the sun always shined and I don’t remember any rain! It was good, therefore, during our stay at Rivercatcher last week that we should have a day out on Anglesey. Visits were made to Cemlyn Bay and South Stack and the weather was as it always had been – sunny and warm!
This weeks gallery photos show Sandwich Terns at Cemlyn and the Chough at South Stack.It was fabulous to film the Chough digging out food on the sea-cliffs that were covered in the blue flowers of Spring Squill. gallery photos www.gordon-yates.com