Bradgate Park

The first wildlife we saw when we entered the park was this Heron striding purposefully along the banks of the Lin. Not sure what he had spotted but he must have been after something.

1/1328 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

The Fallow Deer seemed to stop in just the right place, and look at the size of that Oak tree.

1/200 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

A Red Stag feeding up for the Rut no doubt.

1/640 @ f6.3, iso 800, 250mm

All taken on Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 mm L series Lens

I'm back!

There haven't been many entries lately because of my poor health and being confined to the house. Here is a couple I took last week when Maja took me through Bradgate Park on the disabled drive through day.


That's not the Herons nest in the picture, but I think it was hoping there would be some Coot chicks in there for tea.

1/250 @ f6.3, ISO 400,  400mm

A young Fallow stag, in need of some growing and some antlers.

1/320 @ f6.3, ISO 400,  200mm

Both taken on Canon 7D, EF 100 - 400mm lens

still fishing

Heron Fishing by weir

1/640 @ f6.3, ISO400, 220mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

Heron fishing

Come on little fishy

1/640 @ f6.3, ISO 400, 120mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

Heron

The power of concentration

1/1328 @ f6.3, ISO 400, 400mm
Canon 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Flying Heron

Heron at Thornton

1/2656 @ f6.3, ISO 400, 400mm

More reflections

Heron at Kirby Muxloe Castle

1/640 @ f6.3, ISO 800, 400mm

Heron at sunset

Heron settled for now as the sun sets.

1/500 @ f5.6, ISO 400, 400mm

What's for Tea

A good day's fishing

1/1328 @ f6.3, ISO 1600, 400mm

Heron

Heron  changing his fishing spot

1/800 @ f5.6, ISO 400, 400mm

All Shook Up

Heron having a good shake

1/400 @ 7.1, iso 800,  285 mm

Rare Bird - possibly

I was out the other day and taking pictures of chicks at watermead park. As is often the case all the water birds gravitated towards me hoping to be fed.

1/320 @ 6.3, iso 400, 200mm

When I took this not particularly good pic of a chic, I knew there was an adult on the edges and planned to crop her out at home. When I looked at her on the computer there was something that made me think it might not be a Mallard hybrid and I planned to go back a few days later to see if I could get some better pictures of her.

1/640 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

In the mean time, her offspring seemed to get very tired from charging around after tidbits and curled up to sleep in the middle of the pool.

1/100 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

The return visit was successful and she swam towards me as soon as I arrived.

1/100 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

 So I had plenty of time to get more detailed photos of her.

1/125 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

I cant be totally certain, perhaps someone will tell me if I am right. But looking at the pale cheeks, brown cap and dark bill with a pink tip makes me think it is a Red Crested Pochard. A bird that is very rare this far north.

1/800 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

By way of an easily identified bird, here is the Heron that is nesting by a weir not 2 metres  from the footbridge.

All taken on a Canon EOS 7d and EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

Birds at Watermead Park

We went for a trip round Watermead on thursday and found I could get the Trike through all the gates I was worried about. It attracted a lot of attention as well, luckily it has the website for them written on the frame. I don't mind the free advertising, they are a good company to deal with.

There were a number of young waterbirds about, some playing, others demanding food, all being closely watched by the parent birds. Like this cygnet. Its mother was just out of shot and the father was with its siblings.

1/2000 @ f6.3, iso 200, 400mm

No young here, just a Great Crested Grebe performing its ablutions, it's hard to tell which way is up with this one.

1/2656 @ f6.3, iso 200, 400mm

Another male Mute Swan was keeping a close eye on Skipper as he went past. No need to worry though, Skipper kept as far away from him and his young as was possible without falling into the lake on the other side of the path.

1/2656 @ f6.3, iso 200, 400mm

A fly past from a group of Mallards was a distraction for a while. They went round skimming the water surface three times.

1/4000 @ f6.3, iso 400, 180mm

The star of the afternoon was this young Heron. He was fishing on a small weir where the river Soar leaves the canal and turns towards Wanlip. He was no more than eight feet from me and in full view, as was I, but he made no move to leave. The camera didn't bother him, he just carried on fishing.

1/800 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

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

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

We were returning to the car park when this Mallard chick came towards us obviously expecting to be fed, and when we didn't feed her she started rolling and washing herself. 

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

Seeing the Mallard chick, these two Canada Goslings dragged their parent across for a free feed only to be disappointed.

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

Then it was like rush hour, the Coot chick tried his luck.

1/800 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

As did another Gosling.

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

It was good to be photographing birds again, I thought they had all left Leicestershire.

All taken on a Canon EOS 7d, and EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Where has all the wildlife gone - 10 November 2014

There seems to be a dearth of wildlife at the moment, it's not been very lively all year. Part of that is my restricted ability to get around the wildlife parks and I suspect the neglect of the parks is a contributory factor, but they cant be everything. Only three years ago the parks were packed, everywhere you looked there were birds, squirrels etc.  Now I go out and only managed one Heron.

However I did get a chance to try out my new Semi Recumbent Trike for carrying my equipment on a photo trip. I can't walk far and cannot ride a conventional bike since my back started with its problem. Mission cycles make a variety of different pedal powered vehicles and this suits me perfectly, although I had to get used to using different muscle groups, unlike a conventional riding position your weight is not over the pedals so has no effect on your pedalling. I have changed the position of the handlebars since taking the picture, so my arms weren't so stretched out. Easy rider position is very comfortable.

1/250 @ 7.1, iso 800, 100mm

1/400 @ 5.6, iso1600, 250mm

1/400 @ 5.6, iso1600, 250mm



All taken on Canon EOS7d, EF100 - 400mm L series zoom

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

Watermead surprise - 8 May 2013

We had walked, very slowly, most of the way round our usual short walk and seen nothing notable wildlife wise. Until we reached the "Hole in the Wall" hide, where we spotted a Greylag goose standing on a shallow spot in the middle of the lake. I liked the reflection.

1/640 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

While we were there we spotted a movement in the bushes nearby and eventually got this picture of a Black Cap.

1/800 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

Nothing else of note happened until we turned for the car park, out of the corner of my eye I saw a branch moving in a direction it shouldn't.

A moment later a Heron surprised us when he moved out along the branch and into view. As I stood there with my camera focussed on it, it started to stretch and shake its wings. It was looking right at me as if it were asking what I was looking at.

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

Then after a good shake it shouted at me, at least that's what it appeared to be doing.

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 285mm

A few minutes later it took off and flew close by before wheeling off into the trees.

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 400, 275mm

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 400, 275mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 400, 275mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 275mm

Back in the car park a squirrel watched Skipper intently until he was in the back of the car

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

We threw some nuts and seeds down to attract him but he preferred to stay in the tree. However we had visits from several birds like this female Chaffinch, a male Chaffinch and a Robin (last two not shown).

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

Then a greedy Blue Tit, who seemed to have a big appetite.

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

The Great Tit did some fast fly-bys I assume he got some food but he was so fast I couldn't see. Then we noticed him in the bushes.

1/200 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

All pictures taken on

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