A Happy Midwinter To You All

Whatever you celebrate at this time, whether it be Christmas, Saturnalia, Midwinter etc, have a good one. I have chosen some of my winter pictures from over the years to bring a festive feeling to all.

I hope you enjoy them.

Two pictures from the Highwoods in Colchester, first is Skipper crossing a frozen stream 

Local people enjoying a convenient slope.

Bradgate House at Bradgate Park in Leicestershire, the ancestral home of the ill fated Lady Jane Grey and in the background the folly 'Old John'

Burdock always looks spectacular after a hoare frost.

Which other bird could represent this time of year better than a Robin with puffed up feathers and beautiful song.

no wonder they feature on so many cards.

Admitted the gull doesn't spring to mind in midwinter but this one was on a frozen lake which, when the weather warmed and the rain fell, formed a near perfect mirror - much to its confusion.

A squirrel thought he might find left overs on the picnic table so we threw him some and as you can see he was grateful.

A couple more festive Robins, who can resist them at this time of year, they are also really photogenic.

Here's another bird you wouldn't think of at this time of year, a wren in the snow.

Finally a gathering of winter fuel, this lot probably lasted till new year.

 

To All

A merry whatsit and a happy Thingy

o< :o)>

Christmas Reading

Why not consider my Who-Dun-its for your Christmas reading?
Both are available from Amazon as either paperback or ebook.

Just search for 'John Gwynant' or search by title. You could also follow the link from my website; www.books4reading.com or click on the links at the side of this blog.

Of course my other books are available there as well. There is a choice of genre including Romance, Comedy, Historic Fiction, Horror and Erotica. There is also an Ebook about some of my canoeing and canoe sailing trips 'The Riddle of the Sandbar.'

Deer at Bradgate - 12 December 2013

Since my last post the local birdlife has been conspicuous by its absence, only the common regulars showing themselves. I have spotted the occasional Goosander and Shoveler in the distance and a Dab chick at Charnwood water in very poor light, but nothing available for a decent photo.

So we decided on a visit to Bradgate Park again and the deer did not disappoint. Various young Fallow Deer were out and about and  the variety of colours for deer of the same species was interesting.

1/160 @f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/250 @f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

The same thing applies to the older ones, a spread from white to black.

1/125 @f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

This one paused for a drink on its way down a stream and the day was still so the reflections were quite good - albeit only of the back end.

1/80 @f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

A bigger stag seemed to be moulting and the crow was determined to help, although I wonder why - it cant be nest building at this time of year. I think the wide eyed, startled look of the stag shows his opinion of the goings on.

1/160 @f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/160 @f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

This Red deer stag looked more comfortable with his lot, but was suspicious of the camera I was pointing at him.

1/80 @f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/80 @f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

All pictures taken on a 

Canon EOS 7d, and EF 100 - 400mm, L series lens

A cold day at Watermead Park

With the help of my new mobility scooter, we decided to spend a couple of hours at Watermead Park. The day started sunny, but as soon as we were ready the clouds came in and hid the sun. Other than the usual common fayre there were few birds about, Mallards, Swans, Coots etc.

The Mute Swans were on a still lake, with perfect reflections, until they saw us and decided we might be a source of food. So the reflections I managed to take are a bit ruffled in places.

1/640 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 275mm

1/500 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

We nearly missed the Heron hiding in a bush, but he sat and posed for my camera. We haven't seen a Heron for some months, so we were surprised to see him.

1/125 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/100 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/500 @ f6.3, iso 500, 400mm

All pictures taken on a

Canon EOS 7d and EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Another Deer trip - 31 October 2013

Thursday was the last day this year when cars for the less mobile were allowed to drive through the Bradgate park so we decided to to take advantage of it despite the weather not looking too promising and our belief that the deer would be hiding sheltering from the weather.

We were wrong, there were deer everywhere. We could hear the occasional call of deer still in the final throes of the rut. But I think most of it had run its course and the losing stags were settling down for a rest as were the winners once they'd done their duty. The fallow deer below settled himself down seemingly oblivious to anyone else.

1/200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

While the Peacock looked on with a superior air and hit on any car pulling into the Bradgate house surrounds.

1/250 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 100mm

Fallow deer were scattered around in every sheltered corner they could find.

1/400 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

These Red deer had, what appeared to be, a face off. They parallel walked for a while but eventually went off in different directions.

1/640 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

1/640 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

1/320 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 360mm

This fallow deer stag looked as though he was looking for a mate, but the females seemed to be keeping out of his way.

1/1328 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

The camouflage on this fallow deer can make it difficult to spot.

1/125 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

On our way out of the park there was this Red Tailed Hawk being exercised beside the track.

1/160 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

1/125 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 220mm

1/160 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 285mm

All taken with a

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm lens

The hidden Rut - 17 October 2013

Another try to get pictures of the rut ended in failure, we could hear them and there were lots of photographers looking for their chance, but the Rutting deer remained in the restricted reserve and out of sight. I suppose we all want a bit of privacy when doing things like that :o)

There were some singles around though, so I took a few pics of them as a consolation. With the first three there was a whole lot of trotting going on.

1/500 @ 6.3, iso 400, 170mm

1/400 @ 6.3, iso 400, 170mm

1/800 @ 6.3, iso 400, 275mm

Then a nice little 'family' group caught my eye.

1/500 @ 6.3, iso 400, 275mm

I'm not sure what this Red was doing on his own, maybe he had lost his battle already and was keeping out of the way, but he was moving well enough and didn't look tired out. So maybe he was saving himself for the final battles, when all the others have worn themselves out.

1/200 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

1/160 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Looking at this one's movements, I'd say he had run his race and was ready for a rest.

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

I liked these two pictures, for their settings, too often the deer are out in the open. It's nice to see them in some flora.

1/125 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

1/200 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

all taken with

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L series lens