The images in this blog are taken from several sessions rather than being any sort of record of a particular trip.
Let's start off with some from the RSPB reserve at Arne, Dorset. This remains one of my favourite locations because of it wide range of habitats.
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| Stonechat |
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| Wren giving its all |
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| Meadow Pipit (characteristic rear claw nicely visible) |
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| Sika deer ♂ |
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| Sika deer ♀ |
Another, nearby reserve is that owned and run by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust at Steeple Langford, Wiltshire (Langford Lakes).
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| Treecreeper |
That was taken using a very large lens mounted on a tripod gimbal. However, the bird was darting here, there and everywhere in the small clump of trees. Gymnastics was the word that came to mind when getting the shots. I had to change to a smaller lens that could be hand-held easily and allow me the necessary contortions. The next three images were taken with the smaller lens.
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| 'Into the abyss' |
The rest of the images were taken on the National Trust Stourhead estate - almost my own 'back yard'.
Several of the Robins at Stourhead are on my payroll so I spend a lot of time with them. I lost one in the coldest part of the winter, but it had a tick and was probably not in the best of health.
The next six images were taken on a very foggy morning. The only real possibilities were for close-ups.
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| The fog is very noticeable here. I was poised to take a photograph of a Wren that alighted on this post, but one of 'my' Robins ousted it. I shudder to think what it's saying! |
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| Canada Goose |
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| 'Waiting for the fog to lift' |
The same bird (trust me) in better conditions.
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| 'A clean pair of heels' |
... and some more woodland birds
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| Blackbird ♀ |
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| Chaffinch ♂ |
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| Chaffinch ♀ |
This little lady initiated some interaction in almost the same way that a Robin does. She was very attentive and posed like a true professional.
I talked to her and made a few hand gestures as I moved about to get the angle. She kept striking great super-model poses, but always with a twig in front of her face. After a bit of 'discussion', we finally cooperated enough to get this:
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| "I'm pretty, yes?" |
When she moved to the place where she knew she would be given a reward, I obliged and the session ended.
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| "A reward?" |
