Peacock

Peacock

1/500 @f7.1, ISO 400, 300mm

Butterflies at Sheepwash Lane 15 July 2014

For the first time since I got the mobility scooter, we took it to Sheepwash Lane. We couldn't go before they had workmen and it became very muddy, then we had to wait for everything to settle down.

There's not much in the way of birds down there, although there is a Kingfisher about and one day I might get a photo of it. Instead there are more butterflies than I have seen all year.

After only a few minutes the first one presented itself, a Skipper on a thistle head.

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 400, 380mm

Not very far away was this Ringlet, but with a bit of a breeze most weren't happy to spread their wings.

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

The skipper was still crawling around the thistle head so I took a pic of his back.

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

and his front ...

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

I always like to see Peacock butterflies, but again it would have been better if he'd spread his wings.

1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

In a more sheltered area the Tortoiseshell was happy to show off its colours.

1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

All taken on a Canon EOS7d, fitted with 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

Awaiting the Rut - 6 October 2013

Bradgate Park in Leicestershire has a really good policy of allowing people who are incapable of walking through the park, the opportunity to drive through the park for a couple of hours on a  Thursday and Saturday.

As I am waiting for an operation to replace my hip, we took advantage of this and spent both periods looking for any signs of the Rut which is due anytime now. Although there was sun shining, the shutter speeds seem quite low, that is because most were in shade.

There are signs that the Rut may have begun. The Fallow Deer Stag below was bedecked with weeds, which they do apparently to make themselves look more fearsome to their rivals.

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/40 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

This one was having a good bellow to challenge all-comers.

1/80 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Another challenger collected some weeds to frighten him.

1/20 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

I don't know if these two had worn themselves out or were waiting till everyone else had finished, but they didn't rise to the challenge

1/100 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/250 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

This pair of young ones were making a half-hearted attempt at fighting, but I think they were too young to be serious.

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Others came along to see what all the shouting was about.

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/40 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

When this big Red strolled through the arena, things settled down again.

1/50 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

He decided to have a shout himself and followed up with a good antler rubbing on a tree.

1/80 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/20 @ 5.0, iso 800, 235mm

As we drove round, Maja spotted this Fallow deer in a shaded dell and with the help of flash I managed this pic.

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm - flash

At the back of the ruins of Lady Jane Grey's family home a Jackdaw took advantage of a group of Fallow deer for a perch.

1/1000 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

And a resident peacock watched all the goings on.

1/640 @ 5.0, iso 400, 200mm

1/640 @ 5.0, iso 400, 200mm

I will be laid up for a few weeks after my operation on Wednesday, so I won't be able to get out and take pictures. I may be able to post some that I took earlier and I shall spend most of my time trying to write another novel. I hope those of you that have tried them have enjoyed the read and will try others, there is a variety of subjects.

All taken on a 

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