A brief hop at Watermead - 9 March 2014

My first trip out after having my hip replaced was just a short trip to Watermead Park, it was made more difficult by the park authorities having closed one of the car parks over the winter. Anyone with any knowledge of the park knew that the first warm day and the one remaining car park would be overflowing. and so it was. Fortunately we arrived as someone else was leaving and got a reasonable space.

The first thing we saw, but were unable to get a decent picture of were two mink crossing a path between crowds of people and dogs. They seemed unconcerned and I suspect were in mating mode. Now I know they are there I'll keep a look out and see if I can get some pictures worth publishing.

 At an area we call the beaches we stopped to see what was about on the lakes and a Cormorant flew towards us, he was quite low and in no hurry which enabled me to get these pictures.

1/6400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 235mm

Then this black headed gull in spring plumage turned into the wind and was slowed down enough to get focus on him.

1/6400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 180mm

People were feeding the birds and this Mute Swan wanted to make sure he got a share, he seemed to be flapping to urge himself forward.

1/6400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 190mm

I don't know if this mallard got the same idea, but the Gull coming in to land nearly hit her on the head.

1/4000 @ f5.6, iso 800, 170mm

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

Red Deer before the winds hit - 8 Feb 2014

The birds not being very cooperative this weather, we decided to see what the dee were about in Bradgate Park. The answer was not too much. But we did find some Red deer stags and a couple of young Fallow deer

1/200 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mmm

1/200 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mmm

1/160 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mmm 

1/1600 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mmm

1/125 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mmm

All taken on 

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

A dearth of wildlife - 1 Feb 2014

Since before Christmas there seems to have been a sad lack of wildlife around Leicestershire, mind you with the weather as it is who can blame them for stopping at home.

I managed to get these Shovelers at Watermead park, otherwise it has just been Mallard, Coots and Mute Swans. I did see an Egret away in the distance but couldn't get close enough for a picture.

1/1600 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/320 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

1/320 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

1/320 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

All taken on

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

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