River Dart (Kingfisher)

I was enjoying one of the many sunny days that we have been having. Sitting up in a tree looking over the river dart I was able to get a good view of the banks and the river. I was watching a couple of Mallard Ducks as they made there way up the river looking for food when I herd a loud splash like someone had thrown a stone in the water. Looking round I saw a Kingfisher rise from the water and land on a branch to eat the fish that it had just caught. It sat for a while looking at the water before diving once more. A flash of blue and a loud splash. It rose from the water and flew away making a high pitched call.

Location: River Dart just up from Totnes

Habitat Description: slow moving river with tree covered banks.

Map Reference:

Time/Date: 13/04/2011 2:00pm

Weather: hot sun

Godrevy

Godrevy is a large beach with areas of sand dune and cliffs. When we arrived at Godrevy it was bathed in mist and low cloud that gave the place a really cereal look. It was perfect for some moody and atmospheric landscape photographs. I found myself quickly engrossed in capturing the misty light and was soon lost in my own world with no one around. Just me and the camera constantly looking for a more interesting composition. I found myself in a cave wondering where the others were and thinking that it was probably about time I went to find them. I looked at the time, wow 2 hours had past by without me even realising. I started to head back towards where the seals haul themselves up onto the beach to bask in the warm sun. I found them there all looking down at the seals with long lenses. The seals didn't interest me today, I had seen them many times and all the people there was too much. I wondered off somewhere more quiet watching the banks of mist float inland. It was then that I saw a gimps of something moving flitting through the sky, I new immediately what it was, nothing has that way of flying, not in this country anyway. It was a Swallow, the first one that I have seen this year and a true sine that spring and summer on the way. Swallows migrate to Africa in the cold winter months and come back here to England in the summer when it is warmer to breed. The bird that I saw was flying fast and low over the ground catching flies. I carried on walking to the edge of the headland where two friends were sat eating lunch. It was here that I spotted a skylark flying high in the air singing. There were lots of them and they sang the whole while we were there. I started to head back down to the beach. When I got there I found that the light was not as inspiring. Taking a few more half hearted shots I started to head back to the bus and meet the other.

Location: Godrevy Beach

Habitat description: exposed beach with sand dunes and cliff. Faces north.

Map Reference:

Time/Date: 21^st /03/2011

Weather: low mist and cloud.

Redwing and Flycatcher

It has got cold again over the last couple of days and with the cold has arrived the Redwings. There are a lot of them around campus turning over leaves in search of food. Although it is cold a feeling of spring is in the air and when the sun comes out it is pleasantly warm. Another interesting bird that I saw today was a Fly Catcher of some sort. I did not have time to identify it as it flew away very quickly and I only saw it for a short period.

Location: Tremough Campus

Habitat description: sheltered with areas of woodland and grass.

Map Reference: sw775345

Time/Date: 02/03/11 afternoon

Fulmars

I was surfing the other morning at Porthtowan, an exposed beach on the north coast with high cliffs surrounding the bay. It was a warm morning with light sea breezes which later turned into a heavy onshore westerly wind. We were in the water just after dawn (7am) . Between sets I noticed a lot of Fulmars souring and gliding over the water and around the cliffs. Watching them was amazing. I have always been fascinated by these birds that seem very similar to Albatross. I was sitting there in the water when one skimmed over a wave right next to me. I could see every detail in its feathers and its powerful beak. It soared off round the cliff and away out of sight. A beautiful moment. One of the things that I love about surfing is the way that animals see you in a different way and are not afraid in the same way it is almost as though they see you as more of a animal and not human.

Location: Porthtowan

Habitat description: steep sided high cliffs, exposed.

Map Reference: SW702472

Time/Date: 23/02/11 7am

kynance Cove

kynance Cove is a bay on the south coast or Cornwall on the Lizard peninsular. A very wild and remote place with steep cliffs and strong winds. I went to Kynance Cove to see a big winter swell that was due to hit. When we got there the sea was heaving huge waves rolling into the bay and smashing themselves against the cliffs. As usual when I go to see these sorts of natural events the energy of the storm pumps through me making me have to slow down to be able to take some photographs. My first spot I chose to take a shot was from a ledge a way down the cliff that gave me a good view of another cliff face and the waves hitting it. I was still a long way up just above the splash zone. When I had set the tripod up and started shooting there was a massive bang like a gunshot and a sheet of water shot up in front of me. Held back by the wind it continued to rise up only a few feet in front of me like a white wall. Because of the wind not a drop of water landed on me but it still left me shaking with adrenaline. To be quite honest this was exactly what I wanted. I stayed where I was keeping an eye on the sets enjoying the rush from the danger of where I was. For me one of the reasons for photographing landscapes is to explore taking a landscape from an easy place doesn’t do it for me I like to make it a challenge and go places that others might not. For me on that day I was rewarded by the presence of a Kestrel that soared up from below and hovered right in front of me its black eyes staring back at me as I stared at it, a moment of stillness amongst the turbulent water around us. I did not try to photograph is as it was quite dark and just enjoyed the moment. It soon swooped off along the cliff and was gone. There are also many sea birds in the cliffs including Great Black Backed Gulls that soared around on the wind currents.

Location: Kynance Cove on the Lizard.

Habitat Description: exposed windy cliffs.

Map Reference: SW6813

Time/Date: 16/02/2011 3pm – dark

Weather: Stormy Seas Windy.

Squirrels being a Pain

The squirrels chewed through one of the feeders on the weekend. This is really annoying as this was the feeder I was using for some flight observation that I have recently been doing. I have replaced the feeder with another one that I hope will be more robust and more squirrel proof. However this feeder is not as good for observing as it does not have perches. The squirrels are very agile climbing up the slippery pole to the seed and clinging on. When they have been there for a while they start to slide back down the pole but quickly climb back up.

Location: walled Garden

Map Reference: sw775345

Time/ Date: Weekend of the 08/02/11

Weather: na

Rodents

In the hide today spotted a shrew coming out of the hedge to get some dropped seeds from below the feeder. It would run out really fast and then dash back with a seed. Later in the day I found a whole that looks like it would belong to a shrew however it is at the other end of the garden so I think that it might be from another shrew.

There were also two squirrels at the feeders today, luckily for me they stayed on the ground so the birds still came. I am going to have to make something to stop them from being able to get up onto he feeders though so as they do not eat all of the bird seed.

Location: Walled Garden on Campus.

Time/Date: 26^h January 2011

Weather: Light Cloud

Walled Garden Bird Feeders

I was setting up my camera today in the walled garden to take some photographs of the wild birds in the Walled Garden. Just as I was putting the camera on the lens a Spotted woodpecker landed on the tree right by the hide. When it spotted me it flew away very quickly.

I was in the hide for a lot of the afternoon, in that time there was a lot of activity around the bird feeders. I was very happy to see a Goldfinch enjoying the Niger seed. Lots of Great Tits and a little group of Blue Tits. Another regular visitor was a Coal Tit, I think that there was only one of these. Another bird that I have not come into contact with that much was a Nuthatch that was eating the sunflower heats. A very fast bird always moving its head making it very hard to focus.

I spent a lot of time trying to photograph Chaffinches in flight. I only managed to get one shot that I was happy with. To get this shot I pre focussed on a point where I had observed them fly. I chose a spot in there flight path that they stalled in the air so as to achieve as much sharpness as possible. I then waited till a bird flew in front of the camera. There were a lot of Chaffinches but there was only one male bird to about 6 females.

Location: Walled Garden on Campus.

Time/Date: 24^th January 2011

Weather: Light Cloud Cold

Frogmoor Estuary

Some people on the course and I decided to go away for the weekend to a house near Frogmoor. The location was situated very close to some very wild areas of estuary. To my surprise there was not as much wildlife as one would have thought.

Wildlife of interest included a couple of Egrets flying around as the tide came in. some Mute Swans Cormorants and some Shags. We also observed from a distance a Crow and a Buzzard having a little fight.

Location: Frogmoor Estuary.

Time/Date: Weekend of the 21^st Jan 2011

Weather: Overcast very cold wind.

Penryn Estuary

It was an early start for me this morning, leaving at dawn to explore some more of the Cornish country side. Today I went to a new stretch of the Penryn estuary. It was here that I spotted a roosting point for Grey Herons. Unfortunately I did not have a long lens with me as I was travelling light (steal tripod and a D200) I watched them for a while before they decided that I was too much of a threat and slowly one by one by took flight.

10 mins later or so I was walking up through a field and spotted a fox trotting a long a short distance away. It was not afraid of me or had just not noticed me either way it was very intent on tracking a sent that it had found.

Location: Penryn Estuary

Time/Date: Sunrise, 20^th Jan 2011

Weather: Sunny no Clouds. Frost

Trebah

Yesterday we went on a field trip with the uni to Trebah Gardens, an incredible place because of how the gardens are not overgrown but somehow still maintain a degree of the wild woodland feel. The place is teaming with wild life that is very used to the presence of humans. I saw lots of birds there but there were two moments that stand out for me.

The first of these was spotting a Buzzard in a tree a distance away. While trying to indicate its location to the rest of the group it took off and dived to the ground. Having caught something it flapped around before taking off again and landing on a dead stump low to the ground. It shortly took off again and flew up into a tree. An incredible bird, it was almost invisible against the bark of the tree.

The second was an encounter with a very tame Robin. We were collecting samples to photograph under a microscope and one of the many Robins around the garden was once again distracting us. I thought I would see if it would land on my hand, without food in it was not having anyting of it. However it did show a lot of interest. I found a worm placed it in my hand and held it out. Almost immediately it approached my hand and took the worm.

Location: Trebah Gardens

Time/ Date: 11^th Jan 10an-3pm

Weather: overcast with sunny intervals. Strong westerly wind but sheltered in garden.

Garden Up Date

I decided that I would move the peanut feeder further away from the house due to the fact that not that many birds were coming to this feeder, choosing to go for the feeders further away. This proved to be a great success; the Blue Tits became a lot less nervous sitting on the feeder for longer periods and today another bird has joined the pair making three Blue Tits. The Great Tits are now coming to the garden regularly and displaying less fear. The flock of Sparrows is growing fast which I am very pleased to see.

When I was watching today there was a new visitor; a Pied Wagtail was wagging around below the feeders picking up the dropped seed with the Thrush and the Robin.

With the warmer weather the Redwings have left the garden, they can still be spotted in large flocks out in the fields along with Field-fairs and Lapwings a bird I haven't ever seen around here before.

Location: Garden

Time/Date: 3pm 3^rd January 2011

Weather: chilly but a lot warmer than previously. Overcast, northerly wind.

Squirrels

we were sitting having breakfast today when two squirrels ran past the window. They stopped to glance in at us before continuing on there way. One had a nut in its mouth and the other was following. It did not seem to be a fight for the nut but rather a pair chilling out together.

Location: Exeter

Time/Date: 12pm 30^th December

Weather: Drizzle/Rain, overcast.

The Garden Birds 26th Dec

After looking at the weather last night I had hoped to go out this morning to do a misty sun shoot. When I woke up I looked out the window to find that there was no mist. Putting my alarm on snooze I woke up again half hour later to find that there was mist but not the mist I had hoped for. Feeling that I was making excuses for myself and not wanting to go out in the cold I turned off the alarm and went back to bed. When I awoke again the mist had gone and the garden was teaming with birds. I watched for a while deciding whether or not to grab the camera. A few minutes later I had a 170-500mm lens mounted on a tripod with my canon 400D. Set up to shoot through the glass of the window. I was not sure of the quality I would achieve through this set up but it was warm which made a change. The first bird I was able to capture was a Great Tit, although slightly grainy due to 400iso the quality was not bad at all.

Great Tit

Great Tits do not often visit the garden however this morning there was a pair of them feeding from the Sunflower seed feeder situated in a Holly tree. They displayed a degree of weariness, flying off with the seeds to crack them else where. This meant I was able to photograph them at the approached the feeder.

Sparrow

Sparrows have always been a regular visitor to our garden however in the last few years there has

been a huge decline in the population around us. I have noticed this in other areas as well and the RSPB has been investigating there decline. The decline of the house Sparrow has had its advantages in our garden; a larger verity of birds now visits due to there not being a mob of Sparrows sitting on the feeders but it does worrys me that one of the most common birds to the uk is in decline.

The Sparrows that we do have in the garden behave in the same way that they have always done; sit on the feeders and don't show any signs of shyness.

Thrush

there were two Thrushes in the garden today. They tended to hide away however this one came up close to the house all fluffed up against the cold before it returned to hunt for food out of sight.

Redwing

It was these birds that made me grab the camera in the first place, but by the time I had got it set up they had gone. However later on I looked out the window, thinking there was no birds in the garden I turned away. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a Redwing right up by the house half buried in leaves that it had thrown up in its search for food. Then on closer inspection I saw that there was a whole group all in its own little whole. The thrushes were there as well however on spotting me they flew further away. For some reason the Redwings seemed ok with my presence at the window and carried on giving me the odd glance. It was quite amazing how deep the wholes they were making. One seemed to almost have a burrow under a log and would only now and again emerge. A couple more came down but were quickly chased away by the birds already there. This is the closest that I have ever come to observing these birds in the wild and I hope that I can do so again.

Robbin

The Robbin which has been a resident in the garden for a while has spent most of its time, since I put up the feeders, chasing away other birds and generally being aggressive. It also had a very uncanny way of sitting just out of the light making it very hard to photograph.

Location: My Garden

Time/Date: Morning of 26^th December 2010

Weather: overcast cold

Redwing stunned on road

There have been so many Redwings around with this cold weather. I have noticed that they are very slow and can often get very close to being squashed on the road because of not flying away fast enough. Today we came very close to doing just this. The bird was stunned I think, in the middle of the main road into Avonwick, we just missed it with a last minute swerve however I was afraid that the car behind may have got it. After dropping of my brother we went back up the road and fortunately the stunned Redwing had made its way to the side of the road and was sitting there looking a little perplexed but otherwise well.

Location: Avonwick

Time/Date: 2pm

Weather: cold clear sky

Cormorant

I spotted a Cormorant in the river dart earlier today. I was driving across so was not able to observe for any length of time. I have seen them at this location before and the river provides a good opportunity to photograph these shy birds as they cant get too fair away and there is a lot of cover for one to hide out. They tend to sit on branches in the river when drying their wings.

Location: River Dart at Staverton railway station.

Time/Date: 24^th December 2010 2pm

Weather: cold not much wind.

Wren

Another visitor to the garden today has been a Wren. This little bird was hopping around looking for food and quickly disappeared into some thick undergrowth.

Location: My Garden (sunflower Feeder)

Time/Date: 24^th December 2010 01:30pm

Weather: cold ice and snow on ground clear and sunny.

Great Tit

Now three days since the bird feeders were put out a Great Tit has arrived at the garden. Seen moments ago eating from the sunflower seeds feeder. Its visit was very brief and flew off to a more remote shrub to eat the seed. I have also today seen the resident Robin and the pair of Blue Tits feeding from the garden. The Blue Tits are still weary about coming up to the peanut feeder which I have put on the side f the porch for a good view from the house. I think that I might move it further away if they continue to be this shy.

Location: My Garden (sunflower Feeder)

Time/Date: 24^th December 2010 12:45pm

Weather: cold ice and snow on ground clear and sunny.

Woodland Walks

I have been up to the woods near where I live a couple of times in the last few days. Although I have not seen that much wildlife the signs of animals and birds presence is very strong. Something that I found very interesting, is that with all the snow on the ground one can see where the birds have been foraging for bugs and worms. Around every tree is a circle of leaves and dirt thrown up from there digging. I don't know if this is where they would usually search for food or if it is due to the snow.

Other interesting observations included deer tracks in the snow, I followed these for a short while before I lost them amongst the tracks of other animals (Rabbits I think). I was briefly exited by a bird swooping down through the trees a distance a way. Thinking that it was a bird of pray that had just dived down on some prey I crept closer in order to see round the trees and identify the bird. As soon as I was able to spot the bird it flew away and I could see that it was a Jay.

Location: Woods near Broadhempston.

Time/Date: Between 21^st and 23^rd December 2010.

Weather: cold and icy. Northerly Wind Light.

Garden Feeders

With all the cold weather I refilled the bird feeders in the garden. This was yesterday. Within 3 minutes I had a Robin in the garden picking up the seeds I had sprinkled on the ground and today when I returned home at dusk I noticed a pair of Blue Tits sitting in the Hawthorn tree waiting for me to leave the garden. I am amazed at how quickly they have found the food.

Other birds that I have already seen in the garden since I put out the seed are a bunch of Sparrows, I believe they are house Sparrows. A thrush, a pair of blackbirds and a Dunnock or Hedge Sparrow.

Location: My front Garden at home (Broadhempston)

Time/Date: between 22^nd and 23^rd December.

Weather: Cold icy top temps 3 degrees. Wind northerly light.

Redwing

When out on a landscape shoot this morning I noticed a loan Redwing by the side of the road. At first I thought it was injured and proceeded to follow it as it hopped away from me, refusing to fly. It soon became apparent that the reason for the unusual behaviour was due to the cold. The Redwing did not want to open its wings and fly away if it could possibly help it. Either this or it was too early in the morning (just getting light) and it was still half asleep. On realising that it was healthy and well, other than being cold. I left it to snuggle down on its chosen branch in the hedge and continued on my way.

Location: Broadhempston (on way to woods)

Time/Date: 7:30am (dawn) 23^rd December 2010

Weather: -2 ice and snow partly cloudy. Wind northerly moderate.