Not for the squeamish - 8 Sept 2011

An occasional alternative place for us to visit, usually when we have something to do in Loughborough, is Charnwood Water which we visited yesterday. It is quite popular with some of the more common waterbirds, but as we sat in the car looking out towards the lake we saw some very rapid movements on the bank.

Warning!  Don't look if you're scared of rats.

TOO LATE!

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

The wild Brown rat (Rattus Norwegicus) the common rat in the UK. When you see him in the wild, you see a sleek, well groomed animal in his proper place.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

I stood quite close to this family of rats, watching them running back and forward along the lake side. As long as I didn't move too much they weren't at all bothered by my presence. There was a large male, a smaller female and three young. They all darted for cover when someone walked by with a dog, but soon came out again when they'd gone. The family were feeding on a variety of things, but their favourite seemed to be bread pieces that had gone astray when thrown to the ducks.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/640 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

We  were sitting in the car having our lunch when we noticed a squirrel on the roof of the public conveniences, it sat in the guttering for a while feeding on something we couldn't see. Then descended to the path. I took the camera out again but the squirrel seemed to have disappeared.

After a few minutes it reappeared from a bush and sat eating something, that's always a good photo opportunity. But then I noticed the teats were prominent and that combined with her size must mean she is soon to give birth. We'll be going back there in a few weeks to see if there are any young ones about.

Thornton desert - 5 September 2011

We had a look at Thornton again yesterday, there were quite a few of the more common birds about but we thought that might be because the reservoir is getting lower and squeezing them into a smaller area. The weeds in the dried out areas are up to about 2 feet high (60 cms if you prefer the new fangled stuff).

One good thing though, the old Barnacle Goose that has been around the reservoir for a few years, but not seen for a few months, returned. He was being followed around by a cortege of white goose admirers.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/2000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

And on a rock nearby a Gull was presenting us with the perfect 'postcard' pose.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/2000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

This dry weather seems to have some beneficiaries though, this farmer was getting his crop in easily.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/2000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Where have all the birdies gone - 1 sept 2011

I'm having difficulties finding interesting birds at the moment, several walks round Watermead, Blackbrook and Thornton and all I have to show for it is A few Butterfly pics and a Dragonfly. I may have to try something different in the future if things don't pick up.

However there were quite a few Speckled Woods fluttering by yesterday.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

And mixing it with them was this Gold Banded Dragonfly, which settled on a leaf to sunbathe

I haven't been bored however, I spent a lot of time tidying and updating my website

www.books4reading.com

And uploading my books to Amazon to make them available to the public

Life at the old Pool - 24 August 2011

We decided to go for a walk by the lake at Watermead south yesterday, we haven't been there since they closed the car park for resurfacing, which is strange since we usually park at the other side, in Birstall, so we can avoid the traffic. The car park though has been finished for some time and looks quite smart.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ f5.6, iso 400, 170mm

The usual birds were in evidence, nothing unusual, and there were a few people feeding them. This Canada goose flew straight towards me before swinging off and landing by the rails.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 800, 170mm

With the wind in the direction it was blowing from (ESE) the goose looked like it was flying in slow-motion  and gave me plenty of opportunity for photos.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ f6.3, iso 800, 170mm

Water water - nowhere - 18 August 2011

The two pictures above tell their own story, this was the sight that greeted us at Thornton Reservoir. Both are showing areas, of the middle of the reservoir, that this time last year were covered in water.
There were few birds and of them most were Mallards and Coots, with a few tufty's and a couple of Grebe. it was a sorry sight and even the Squirrels weren't raiding the bird feeder.

Lets hope we get some serious rain soon!

Distracted - 17 August 2011

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ramblin-Jacks-Bawdy-Tales-ebook/dp/B005HG4Y22/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313577105&sr=8-1

I've been a bit distracted from photography for a couple of weeks, but now my book has been released on Kindle, I can get back to it.

The book is available at the link above and if you don't have Kindle you can get a FREE download from Amazon that emulates a Kindle Reader.

"Ramblin Jack's Bawdy Tales" by John Gwynant (my pen name) is about the risque adventures of the inhabitants of a fictitious English Village 'Lurking in the Wolds'.

A second 'Lurking' book will be out soon, but will be slightly more serious.

I'm going out this afternoon to see what wildlife is about, so another post tomorrow - hopefully.

Watermead Park - 6 August 2011

Watermead was a bit more lively yesterday, with a variety of wildlife showing itself.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

The orange tip females were first to show and there seemed to be a lot of them, strange though, no males that we saw.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1600 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Then this Red Admiral showed up and settled on a few places where I could get it's picture, nice to see a bit of colour after all the white wings of the orange tips.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

A bee joined them and hovered for a second when my lens was pointing in her direction.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/5312 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

As I approached the hole in the wall hide I could see this Heron, but as I got closer I could see a Little Egret and when the Heron saw it, he took off.  After he left another Little Egret arrived and a few minutes later a third landed. It looks like they've decided to settle here.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/3200 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

A short walk at Watermead - 31 July 2011

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

The Lakes at Watermead were so quiet, I thought I would only get a few photos of Mallard and Swans. But this Hoverfly decided to settle for a moment and allow his pic to be taken.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

When I first saw this mother with her chicks I didn't realise what she was so I took a picture anyway. It wasn't till I got home and put it on the iMac that I realised it was a Scaup.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/160 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

This Heron seemed unconcerned that it was standing in a position that allowed a good view of it from the path. Then it opened it's beak and gave us a good view of the rather odd shaped tongue.

Getting back to it! - 28 July 2011

Not fully fit yet, but I've started taking short walks and pictures when there's anything about.

Canon EOS 7d, EF100 - 400m L Lens
1/3200 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm 

This cygnet has been trained well by its parents, as soon as it saw us at the water's edge, it came across for some food.

Canon EOS 7d, EF100 - 400m L Lens
1/2000 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm 

This little monster decided to settle close to us, only another dragonfly could love that face

Canon EOS 7d, EF100 - 400m L Lens
1/800 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm 

Lots of butterflies about, this speckled wood was flitting about at great speed, but eventually set down for a rest.

Canon EOS 7d, EF100 - 400m L Lens
1/2000 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm 

and this Comma was sunning itself when we passed.

Canon EOS 7d, EF100 - 400m L Lens
1/2000 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm 

And a bit further round the same bush a common blue damselfly was doing the same.

Canon EOS 7d, EF100 - 400m L Lens
1/64 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm 

The waterlillies are starting to look at their best, but there wasn't much in the way of birds to see. Maybe they've gone on holiday.

something different - 16 July 2011

Canon EOS 7d, EF - s 60mm
1/800 @ 7.1, iso 1600, 60mm

I had to go to hospital on Thursday for a minor op, so it'll be a few days before I can get out with the camera again.

I decided to post this Ammonite to show I'm still about.

Butterflies and bugs - 7 July 2011

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

This Speckled Wood butterfly took some keeping up with, it seemed hyper active, hopping from plant to plant and not stopping for more than  a couple of seconds on each. But eventually it settled and spread it wings in the sunshine, giving me a chance to get the picture.

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

While I was taking the picture of the Speckled Wood, this fly came and settled nearby so I took it's picture as well.

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1328 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

A bit further along and this female Orange Tipped White was too busy taking the nectar to care what I was doing with my camera.

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

At Moorhen Marsh a coot parent was feeding its chick, looking at the head of the chick I suddenly realised where the saying "bald as a coot" comes from. It's remarkable to see such a belligerent bird as a coot, which will ague with anything in its area, being so tender when it feeds its chick.

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

I took some pictures of Teasels and it wasn't until I was at home looking at the pictures on the computer that I noticed this little monster, it looks like something out of a kids monster comic. But in fact it is the Larva stage of a Seven Spot Ladybird, it seems strange that it is bigger than the adult form.

An unusual visitor - 3 July 2011

A walk at Watermead today and first thing was to check on the grebe nest. The mother seemed very settled and comfortable, so i would think the egg is safe under her.I think it's due to hatch towards the end of next week. The mother was very low and didn't look like a good picture, so we'll have to wait for some pictures.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Walking on there wasn't much happening until I reached the Hole in the Wall hide and a glance through the gap showed this young Grey Heron. He seemed quite happy to pose and allowed me to take a lot of pics.

Then a flurry of white feathers announced an arrival, at first I thought it was a gull arriving. But it was soon obvious that it was a Little Egret.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

Not a common bird so far inland, they usually prefer coastal waters, but before long a second one arrived. Unfortunately it went behind the reeds and flew out again when the first one flew at it.

Grey after the heat - 28 June 2011

Well after the heat of earlier in the week, today was quite grey and when we arrived by the worcester avenue entrance to the lake, there were few birds in sight.

I decided to sit at the moorhen marsh and wait, it was quiet and warm with a slight breeze, quite a pleasant place to sit. I could see a grebe in the distance, he was swimming across and back at a safe distance. A family of mute swans swam out at a similar distance and while I was distracted with a heron, flying into the reeds at the other end of the lake the grebe came closer. I watched him grooming for a while then shaking himself.

As he came closer he continued grooming so I got the camera ready and before long he obliged :

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1328 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 350mm

It was worth waiting for and you can see his crest hanging down like a black head scarf.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1328 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 350mm

Then the area started to live up to it's name and, between the coots, several moorhens started to appear.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 350mm

As I was leaving, a miniature frog showed itself, briefly, then disappeared into the undergrowth before I could take its picture.

Kelham Bridge - 22 June 2011

A short walk at Kelham Bridge, in bright sunshine and there was plenty to be seen. Almost as soon as we were out of the car we started seeing butterflies and hoverflies. We also saw a Kestrel, but although I got a photo of it, it was too far away and the image wasn't good enough to reproduce here.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/640 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

I saw this hoverfly flitting from flower to flower until it finally settled and I was able to take this photo.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/1328 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/1328 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/400 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

The Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were keen to catch the rays of the warming sun and easy to get pictures of. Although I had just achieved focus on one, which had settled on the path in front of me, when Skipper rushed back to see why I'd stopped and very nearly trampled it.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/800 @ 6-3,  iso 400, 400mm

In one of the hides, there was the usual friendly greeting from the locals and a chat about what had been happening. Then as we were watching a Buzzard in the distance, this Heron decided it would be a good idea to balance on a post. It didn't look comfortable and had to keep flapping to maintain it's balance. After a while it flew to the next post, but suffering the same problems there, it disappeared while the Buzzard was holding our attention.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/2656 @ 6.3,  iso 400, 400mm

Although this picture isn't perfect, it is as close as the Buzzard came to the hide, I intend to go back and try to get closer to it's hunting area.