Saturday, 20 December 2014

Only birds this morning.

This morning I Returned To were the fox had been feeding and was in a really good position to photograph the fox if it returned, but it was a no show. Nearby pheasants began to squawk and take flight, I missed one great photo opportunity as a pheasant flew straight at my head in the dark (I ducked) probably better to miss one photo than be hit by a bird.

As the day began to lighten up several flocks of geese passed by. A flock of plover (I think) took flight from the centre of the field.

The area were the fox had been hunting was riddled with rodent size holes, I'll go there again to watch the holes.

On my way home I saw a bird of prey it seems to be a permanent resident in my patch now but I've only been able to see it from a distance.

Also saw some curlew feeding in a field.
A very cold morning but It's always nice to be out and about.

Sunday, 14 December 2014

A meeting with a fox.

A cold morning and I nearly stayed in bed, glad I made myself go.
Spotted something moving down the edge of the field.
We looked at each other for a while and the fox walked out into the field glancing over at me.

Then it came back to my edge of the field and started walking back towards me.Times like this I'm glad of the camouflage gear I wear.

I was standing quite close to a ditch where I've photographed brown rats before an the fox went there to check it out.

Moving back into the field it walked past me and went into a wild patch of field and spent the morning hunting in that patch.

Eating his catch.

Glad I made the effort to get up and go out this was a brilliant morning.

A new accessory

While shopping for a pair of gloves I saw this in a local shop amongst hunting gear. A shooting stick it extends to 193cm so I now rest my camera at eye level,  the V at the top unscrews so I can attach my camera if I want. Just thought I would share this as hunting gear is the last place you would expect to find a great photography accessory.


Friday, 12 December 2014

No wildlife.

Out for an evening walk baited my local mouse and rat burrows. Spent my time wandering from one to the other no sign of rodents at either burrow.  However I did spot some new diggings probably rabbits. Worth keeping an eye on.
Don't like walking around on frosty footpaths with my camera a slip could prove expensive and walking on ice grass sounds like a gravel path so no chance of stealth.
Hoping to get back out in the morning weather forecast says it's going to be a nice day.

Saturday, 29 November 2014

A week of wet weather.


All I have to show at the end of a week of rain and mist the only thing that stops me from going out as I worry about my camera getting damaged.
On the bright side the leaves are nearly all gone off the trees so I might spot some birds and I have a cunning plan where moths photography is concerned, if the rain and damp hasn't wiped them all out.

Monday, 10 November 2014

Garden trail camera

Bought a trail camera the quality of the photos is not great but I'm pleased with the activity in the garden.

Sunday, 2 November 2014

Mice at night

While exploring a small woodland between a motorway and a farmers field I spotted signs of wildlife in a small pile of garden waste. I set up my camera on the tripod and waited, knew I was onto something when I saw the grass moving as something moved through it.

As I waited I saw a pheasant wandering through the area.

Later that night I saw several mice but only got one decent photo.

Unfortunatly not the best of settings the next night I changed my position  managed to get a couple of pictures and saw a lot of scurring about. I noticed that when I reached forward to zoom in and focus they would run away.

The third night I changed my set up, l attached the light to the tripod and extended it as hight as it would go that lite the area much better for general wildlife watching. I stepped back into the dark to hide my movements and used the monopod for support. Got my best pictures yet.


That seemed like a good way to set up and I will try it again. Time to move to a new field where I've seen some other small interesting holes.