Merry Xmas

Just a few more from my trip down south recently.

Two more of the beautiful Waxwings from Hereford.

This Kestrel was also seen in Hereford, pity there was no light.

On the outskirts of Chester it seemed that we had a giant meerkat on the loose. This amazing sculpture is made from hay and stands over 40 feet tall.


There was also a heavy Hoare frost. The first of the pictures below was taken in my home village, Guilden Sutton.

This second one was taken in Plemstall, another village just a couple of miles from my home in Guilden Sutton.

I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Xmas and I hope that 2011 proves to be a good year for us all, wherever we may find ourselves. God Bless.

Here's to 2011, see you next year.

Waxwing Heaven

I went down south this last week, I had a two night stay at my mums in Chester, during which I took in another match at Old Trafford, with my brother and son.

I then shot off down to Hereford to see my daughter, son in law and grandson, I stayed there for three nights. Then I shot down to Newport to help my son with his house move. I had hoped that I would get the opportunity to get some Waxwings from at least one of those locations, as there had been recent sightings in all three locations.

Hereford gave me the first of my opportunities, but the weather was foul.

Later the same day the clouds broke and there was sunlight, although the birds stayed firmly where they had been earlier in the day, right at the top of the trees.

Although there are three birds in each of the photos above, there were many more in attendance, I would estimate in the region of 35-40.

Hereford gave me the only opportunities for capturing these marvellous birds. Sunday was a particularly sunny day and fortunately for me the birds were feeding on  much more accessible berries.

They really are a cute bird to photograph.

The really light background in this picture is the painted wall of a house.

You have just got to love that swept back look.

There are so many of these being seen around the country at the moment that it would have been mega disappointing not to have managed a few close ups, I was a little sad that I'd only been able to take my 300mm lens with me, but at least using the 1D mk 3 I could use the 2x converter.

I got a few other shots of various things whilst I was on my travels, when I get chance to go through them I may post one or two on here.

As always click on the pics for a larger version, all pics are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without my permission.

Top Shots 2010 (part 2)

Time for a few more of my favourites from this last year. I hope you like them.

I want to start with this Tree Sparrow, I remember there being lots of these around Guilden Sutton in Cheshire when I was a child, yet now I dont think they are seen in the village at all.

The Tree sparrow was taken at Fairburn Ings RSPB reserve West Yorkshire, this next shot was a Kingfisher also taken at Fairburn, Its the only Kingfisher I've photographed this year so thats why its here.

It was a very grey day and he only made a few fleeting visits, but I was so pleased to get him at all.

The next shots are two birds that are very similar, infact they are cousins. I love both of these pictures.

This first is the Meadow Pipit.

and its cousin the Tree Pipit.

Two lovely birds I hope you would agree. The first was taken on Anglesey Island, North Wales, near to the cafe at South Stack. The second was taken near Abergavenny in Gwent, South Wales. It was taken earlier this year whilst I was trying to get the Mamora's Warbler.

I haven't got many mammals this year, but I did manage a shot of a poorly hedgehog, It has to be one of the smallest hedgehogs I've ever seen and despite the fact that it was obviously poorly it was nice to see him.

I was really chuffed to get this next shot, the first I had of this little wader. A Curlew Sandpiper captured at Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve.

I still have a few more shots to go through so there may be a part 3. Come back and see.

Thats Snow business.

What a week, snow,snow and more snow. We've got well over a foot of snow here in Barnsley, and my car hasn't moved off the drive for days.

Unfortunately I've run out of bird seed to so the sparrows and Collared Doves that visit my garden are down to starvation rations.

But the kids love it dont they? My little great neice has been off school all week as her school has been closed, she has enjoyed sledging with her mum and Nanny.

Its given me the opportunity to try out some of my foul weather gear.

the fleece lined trousers are a godsend.

The streets have been very quiet too, with only the odd vehicle (mostly 4x4) using them.

But my sister was all for making a path to our door, the foolish child.

There's more to come, allegedly, so I will look forward to that.....not.

Top shots 2010 (part 1).

I have decided to share again with you some of my favourite shots from 2010. They are not in chronological order but I hope you will enjoy them with me.

This first is a simple shot, taken with my nikon compact I think, its not technically brilliant but I love the simplicity of it.

This was taken on Hergest ridge, North Herefordshire, the day that Chris G and I went a searching for Dotterell, didn't see them but got my closest ever, and first confirmed view of a cuckoo.  Again not technically brilliant but isn't it so lovely to see a foal with its mother?

Highland Cattle, so characterful and impressive with those horns. This one was at Fairburn Ings, RSPB reserve.

This was last winter, it was around the time that we got all the snow, I was living in Ross on Wye and this was the view from my back door.

Wild Boar piglets, this was an opportunity I didn't want to miss. I got up close and personal with these little fellows and 7 or 8 of their brothers and sisters with two adult sows whilst driving through the Forest of Dean. A chance encounter and one which I now have a photographic record of forever. I hope they dont eradicate them from the forest completely.

A simple shot of a Blue Tit, but I really like it.

Macro photography is something I would love to get better at. This was one of my attempts to capture the smaller things that lurk in our gardens.

 

Lastly for this post is a picture that I absolutely love. I have had a fascination with the Moon since I was a small child. I was really pleased to get this almost full moon.

These may not be the best shots I've taken this year, but they are amongst my favourites. I will post another selection soon.