Badgers at dusk!!

 With the weather conditions being favourable,I decided on a return to the local Badger sett that I had discovered a few weeks previous.Arriving an hour before sunset, I took up  position concealed within my small bag hide that I use for these close encounters.The wind was blowing south westerly straight into my face,perfect!!Time quicklly passed with the sun setting low to the West.Suddenly without warning an adult appeared at the sett entrance sniffing the air.

 Keeping perfectly still and not reaching for the camera,I let him become accustomed to his surroundings,letting him gain confidence that any danger was not present.He slowly edged   nearer,constantly stopping and listening for the slightest noise.I knew that to depress the shutter button now would be fatal and would have him immediately scurrying back to the  safety of the sett.

 Soon a part grown cub decided to venture out into the late evening light to be joined shortly after by 2 more.

 These 2 began to play and push one another about snapping and biting in turn.

 Some serious wrestling entailed as they jumped and frolicked less than 20 metres from where I was hidden.I was frozen with excitement as I watched this superb insight into the life of this usually nocturnal animal!They carried on with their antics for the next 5 mins at least, each trying to get the upper hand.It was hard to maintain focus with the camera , with their constant movement and low light conditions,but I tried my best!

In total there were 3 cubs and an adult within this familly and they soon ambled off to begin their nights foraging and feeding amongst the surrounding fields and streams.I knew I had witnessed one of those special moments one gets as a nature photographer and I  let them get well away from me, before I stealthily retreated to the bottom of the bank.I didn`t want them to know they had been observed for the last 20 mins and as Hugh Falkus once said `only if you can watch Badgers without them knowing you`ve been there can an observer call himself a true naturalist`.Well I`d like to think I hadn`t caused them any duress as I`m sure I`ll be back to witness these enthralling animals again!! Thankyou for looking in and I hope you enjoyed the images!!!

Badgers on my doorstep!!!

 With bird activity pretty low at this time of year,I decided to concentrate on a local Badger sett I found recently.I had evidence of Badger activity within the area with all the tell tale signs evident,however it wasn`t until I had a chance encounter with a local land owner that I discovered the sett.It was situated up a small gully within a hay meadow and I was given permission to watch from a safe distance.The 2 badger cubs above were totally unaware of my prescence!

 I believe it had been used for the last 15 yrs and was the home to 2 adults with 4 large cubs.It is not an easy area to approach as it is quite open within the field.My viewing point at the moment is roughly 100 yds away across a small stream and on the side of a bank, almost level with the sett.It`s not the best vantage point for photography, but I am working on a plan to advance another 50 yds closer,this will incorporate the use of my small hide as cover.These 3 cubs emerged as I waited patiently.
 It`s usually about 8.30 pm when the Badgers emerge,always sniffing the air cautiously.I always have to make sure I`m well downwind of the sett, as their sense of smell is very acute and they will not tolerate any human disturbance!This Badger above and below is well within its comfort zone and hunts the damp grass for slugs and worms!
 Last night whilst in position,I had the pleasure of a fox appear from within the the undergrowth,

 He soon caught scent of me before he slipped quietly away.

 Thanks for looking in and I hope to bring you some more images of the Badgers and their ongoings shortly!!!

Back to Bowland

 A return trip to Bowland produced varied sightings of birds normally associated with the upland fells.This male ring ouzel was back and forth feeding a fledgeling.I believe there were 3 pairs  that bred within close proximity of each other.

 Again a male Stonechat perches sentry like on the bracken!

 Often overlooked but often heard the Linnet.This male was taking grit from the footpath.

 The next 3 pictures are of a female Whinchat that posed extremely close to me.The use of a small throw over hide and keeping still made these shots possible.

  Nicely posed on the thistles!

The cock Linnet was highly prized as a cage bird in days gone by,they are much better appreciated in their natural environment though don`t you think.Its near cousin the Twite used to frequent the uplands as well,but numbers are well down round in my locality!

Kestrel/Little Owl broods!

                                      Waiting intently!

                                    A super site to observe these young Kestrels.

                                 The male alights nearby clutching a vole!

                                    He comes to the ledge with food!

                              A fine looking individual!!

I hope you enjoy looking at this familly of Kestrels that I recently came across in the Pennines.Its not often you can watch young Kestrels at the nest as they are usually to be found high up in old corvids nests or hidden within some barn.I do believe this site has been used for over 30 yrs by the Kestrels, but up to this yr the last time was 6 or 7 yrs back.The cliff face it is on faces east and is roughly 30 ft off the ground.I was about 15 yards away hidden behind some heather.I hoped an adult would return with prey and some 20 mins after I arrived,the male duly obliged by perching on a nearby fencepost before flying in with a vole.The adult only perched for 5 secs before having the vole snatched off it by one of the youngsters!I wasn`t quick enough with the camera to capture the moment but enjoyed watching the young Kestrel devour its meal.To cap off a great day,I captured a brood of young Little Owls enjoying the afternoon sun on my way home!!!!

Chats of the fells!!

 One day last week I made the most of the unseasonably warm weather(sic) to visit the Bowland fells.I hoped to encounter both our Chat familly on the heather laden hillsides.These birds are now feeding youngsters so would be quite easy to pick up.This gorgeous male was the first to show perched sentinel like on the heather.

 In fact he had 2 fully fledged youngsters to feed hidden in the bracken.

  They have had a rough couple of years with the harsh winters and I`m glad they seem to be making a comeback, as I know of 4 pair that have successfully raised youngsters!

 The Whinchat on the other hand migrates to Africa thus avoiding the worst of the bad weather.Needless to say numbers are flourishing on the Bowland fells with up to 14 pair noted!

 Both male and female emitt a high pitched twittering song and when alarmed they have a sharp whistle and clicking call sounding like 2 stones being banged together!

 This male Whinchat along with his mate, was catching flies to feed his brood of chicks.It was interesting to watch them visit the same sheep grazed area of hillside to pounce on the flies and beetles that were present.They would then fly a couple of hundred metres to the nest and feed their hungry youngsters. 

The thistle provided a perfect perch to ambush prey and also to look out for predators such as the Merlin which also hunts the fells.As I write this blog, we are being battered by wind and rain again with not much let up over the next few days.Lets hope these birds find enough food on the sodden fells to sustain their offspring so they can fatten up before their long journey South,I for one will be sad to see them depart!!!!!!!

Farmland birds!

 Seeing as the weather outside is wet and windy,I`ll post another blog from a recent recce to the arable lands of the west coast of Lancs.The day started early for me, as I knew the birds would be in full voice.There is no mistaking the Corn Buntings rhythmatic jingly metallic call and at least 4 males were singing from their lofty positions on the wires.

 It is not one of our prettiest birds, being somewhat drab in appearence with its heavy body and stout bill, and when seen in flight it seems to dangle its legs somewhat!

 The Yellow Wagtail on the other hand is one of our most colourful birds with a somewhat modest call, consisting of two or three scraping notes.Numbers are well down at the moment with this male being the only one I found on my travels.

 Again using an elevated position to survey the area, perhaps he had a mate tucked away in the vegitation.

 I was happy to see this Bee Orchid on my travels,its pherimones attract male bees who try and mate with its flower, which in turn looks like a female bee, thereby pollinating them.This is known as `pseudocopulation`,all very clever don`t you think!!So thanks for dropping in on my blog and I`ll post further accounts soon!!!

Common Buzzard

  I recently got close to one of our more common raptors a few weeks back whilst out with the camera.

 Its such a shame that these birds are still persecuted up and down the British Isles.

 I believe they were trying to make this legal,due to the Buzzard taking pheasant poults on some rich estate owners land.For God`s sake its a bloody bird of prey.At the moment this has been given a knockback due to a huge outcry from bird lovers everywhere.What a shame the same couldn`t be done for the Hen Harrier,with not one breeding pair in the whole of England!

 It`s always pleasing to look skywards and watch the Buzzards spiralling on the thermals.Sometimes you`ll find one perched on a fencepost by the motorway as you pass by.
In my neck of the woods, I can only think of 2 breeding pair, one of which failed miserably this season.Lets hope these large raptors grace our skies for many more years to come!!!!

Barn Owl at Lakenheath!!

 For my last instalment from Suffolk, I`ve chosen to share with you these images of a Barn Owl.2 pairs inhabit the site and early morning is the time to find them hunting the meadows and riverbank.

 This particular bird gave me stunning views in excellent light.

 At times she passed within 10 metres of me,partly because I was hidden in the rushes!

 A fantastic subject indeed,and one that never fails to disappoint!!!

She stopped to rest and scanned the vegitation around.I`ve sometimes seen them drop onto prey when perched on fenceposts like this one.Eventually she did catch a vole and returned to feed her chicks!I hope you enjoyed my account of Suffolk and already I can`t wait to return!!!!!

Hobbies.

    Continuing on from my last blog,I`d now like to show you some images of a dashing little falcon the Hobby.It just ouzes speed and feeds on the abundant dragonflies that skim the reeds.Later when they have bred and are feeding chicks they hunt swallows and swift to supplement their diet!

 Believe it or not, there were up to 30 hawking insects, with some coming within range of the camera.They seem to meet up at Lakenheath before continuing their journey North, as food is plentiful here in early May!

 This adult flew in from behind me and perched about 50 yds away,giving me the chance to admire his plummage,the orange pants contrasting starkly with his streaked breast.

 Usually I haven`t been able to get this close,maybe he was resting up after his long journey from Africa!

 A bonus whilst watching the Hobbies hunting, was the appearence of this Roebuck that materialised from out of the reedbed!

A quick blast on the shutter button and he was away, bounding gracefully into cover!
I`ll post more images from Lakenheath shortly,so please enjoy my latest captures from this marvellous reserve!!!