Peace & Quiet

Peace & Quiet, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

I suppose everyone knows a place like this. It is open to everyone, but I have rarely seen another person here. A haven for Dragonflys, snakes,lizards, frogs and toads (although I don't see them very often) as well as deer and birds, it remains a bit of an open secret and I hope it stays that way.
This is an old clay pit, long since abandoned and left to return to it's former glory.

Chilled

Chilled, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Another Arne Sika, but this one was even more relaxed. There was no way he was going to move, regardless what we did.

Face Off

Face Off, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

It was far too easy to get close to these chaps today. Eventually he wandered off, but not before he proved that he was afraid of us. This is one of the Purbeck's Sika at Arne, a great place for a deer fix.

Picture Within Picture

Picture Within Picture, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Last night I played at being a rock photographer for a friend of mine. His band, 'Nuff Said' was on the main stage and they were superb, a lot better than my pictures. I quite liked this one though. I didn't get the focus right when he did this the first time so I cheated and asked him to do it again.

Carnival Queen

Carnival Queen, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

I've seen quiet a few painted ladies this week, the carnival brings out all sorts, I suppose. Another day with just the big lens, so a macro shot was kind of out of the question. And I am always unsure what part of the butterfly to focus on: body, wings or antennae. Maybe that is why I don't tend to do butterflies.

Target Practise

Target Practise, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

When you spend hours feeding the birds, you can't complain when they hang around. Watching the Black Headed Gulls harass locals and tourists alike is always fun. Huddling in a group just gives them a bigger target

A Long Knight

A Long Knight, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Yesterday was Procession Day at Swanage Carnival and, as a member of The Round Table we tend to use this as an excuse to dress up and act like idiots, (not that we need much of an excuse).
For the last four of years a few of us have dressed up as Knights and I must admit, I really enjoy it....

Mini Monaco

Bright blue skies, warm sunshine, perfect scenery and the Red Arrows. That is all it needs to fill the bay with boats of all shapes and sizes.

No Smoking

No Smoking, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Dive, Dive, Dive

Dive, Dive, Dive, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Steady...

Steady..., originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Today, we had the Red Arrows. Swanage is a great place to see these, because the display takes place in over the bay allowing you to sit on the hills and get a good view.

In The Pink

In The Pink, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

It seems ages since I managed to get out in the morning on a blue sky day. Sometimes you just need to sit down, shut up and watch for a while.

This is Tily Whim, an old quarry.
(there is no colour correction here, the sail really was that pink)

Head to Head

Head to Head, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

From Durlston Head To Ballard Head, with Peveril Point in the middle and Bournemouth in the background. Probably one of the most photographed views on the Purbeck, and one of my favourites.

Liquid Gold

Liquid Gold, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Another quiet walk this evening. Beautiful blue skies for a change, but still very windy. Lots of noises coming from the hedgerows, and just quick views of Roe deer and Foxes as they begin to wake up.
The cliffs are the best place to be went it is windy. The noise of the waves crashing against the rocks is incredible. I can spend hours here, just watching the world go by, especially in the evening when they are almost deserted.

Opportunistic Scavenger

Opportunistic Scavenger, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

"Magpies will eat anything once they have discovered it is edible."
The young often bite off more than they can chew.....

Rain Stopped Play

Rain Stopped Play, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

No walk tonight because of the rain. I don't mind getting wet, but it plays havoc with the camera. I am always frustrated when I can't get out, I feel trapped and I just can't settle.Still, it could be worse....

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Just Keep Hanging On

Just Keep Hanging On, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Just a short walk tonight, following the old paths to the cliffs at Durlston. A very quiet evening, the wind that we have had all day has dropped, probably the calm before the storm. I think we may be in for some rain. Not a lot going on, but it was good to see the resident family of Kestrels keeping close together. The youngsters still screeching at the mother, seemingly unable to fully break into the adult world.
The usual suspects flying along the cliffs, Greater Blackbacks and Herring Gulls making a lot of noise, with the more subdued Shags watching the world go by. No Badgers about tonight, but a big, fat Rabbit sat at the entrance to the set.

Nine Barrow Down

A Tribute To Mr. The Bruce, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

We had a very windy morning walk along Nine Barrow Down today, looking for fossils in the chalk. Although the views are always incredible, giving you the choice of looking across Poole harbour or inland towards Tynham, we didn't manage to find much.

Saturday Evening

It was very quiet tonight. After a day of quiet gusty winds everything was lovely and calm, if a little overcast.
Plenty to see though, three Roe deer were out and about, two males and a female, a couple of Foxes and a Badger. Lots of birds too, making use of the last hours of daylight now that the wind had dropped. No sign of the Kestrels or Peregrines up on the cliffs, but there were plenty of sea birds and it was good to see that the little Greater Blackbacked Gull chick is thriving.

Durlston Badgers

Durlston Badgers, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

It has taken me years to get this shot, all the Badgers I have seen (and there haven’t been many) have preferred to stay in the gloom of the late night woods. But with this young Badger so close, I had to keep remembering to take pictures. I spent about 10 minutes with this one before he trundled back to the hedgerow.

One Eye Open

One Eye Open, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

I really like seeing Herring Gulls, but then I am not a Herring!. This was taken on the cliffs at Durlston this morning.

Distracted

Distracted, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

One of the young Kestrels sat on the cliffs at Durlston this evening. After watching these a couple of nights ago, I just had to go back for more. The light was a bit better and it was less windy but I didn't have a lot of time

I'm Hungreeeeeey

I'm Hungreeeeeey, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

A bit of a late walk to the cliffs so the light wasn't great, but I had a fine time watching Mother Kestrel and the twins. I managed to get plenty of shots, including one of the Peregrines, but I am not sure if they are clear enough. One of the chicks was busy ripping a Vole apart but he had his back to me for most of time, which was a shame. And while all this was going on, a Tawny Owl was hooting away in the trees.

Lady in Red

Lady in Red, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

I have been meaning to post this one for a while now. I took it about six weeks ago when she came very close. I have seen her since, but I haven't managed to get any shots. I haven't seen her cubs yet either, and I would have thought they would be out and about by now.

I'm Hungry!!

I'm Hungry!!, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Another shot of the feeding Whitethroats. I got the light a little better on this one, I think, but a bit of Sun would have been nice. I really like the look on the youngsters face.

Just Enough Curiosity

Just Enough Curiosity, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Well, what a difference a couple of weeks make. The last time I saw this little chap he was tiny. Mum was nearby and was happy for me to sit down for a while so he could be a little more adventurous perhaps. The Sun was out and it was a beautiful morning, but I couldn't get him to leave the gloom of the ferns. Next time, maybe.

Mother & Child

Mother & Child, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

I got too close to this Sika. She was in the gloom of the woodland and I didn’t see her until it was too late. I backed off to a safe distance, took a shot and left her alone. I always try to steer clear of the fawns, as any disturbance can scare the mother off for good. The sound of the youngster crying for its mother is terrible.

Close Encounter

Close Encounter, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

This young lady just made my day. I spent a little while with her this evening and she seemed quite happy. Then, obviously bored with me, she wandered off into the gloom back to her cubs. It was lovely to see such a healthy wild Fox, I look forward to meeting her family.

Fur or Feathers

Fur or Feathers, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

So impossibly white, this beautiful Swan looked as if it had fur instead of feathers. We watched her for about half an hour while she preened herself and she still wasn't finished.

Starling Darling?

Starling Darling?, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

The end of another beautiful blue sky day. I managed to pop out for a little while, after work today, to look for Owls. No luck yet, but I did come across these Starlings hanging on the line.

Golden Glow Award

Golden Glow Award, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

This one is from a few days ago when a had a bit of a Squirrel frenzy, He was very active, maybe he had Readybreak for breakfast?

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

The Short Eared Owls at Durlston allowed me to get very close and It was a real pleasure photographing them.

Roe buck

Roe buck, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Benny and I suprised this Roe buck. I can't go walking without him, it wouldn't be right. Sometimes he scares animals away, sometimes he distracts them for just long enough! These Roe deer are very timid, so he did well.