Graceful in the air, almost regal as they bob up and down on the water but totally unable to land without making a complete mess of it! Plenty of Black Headed Gulls were playing around on the sea yesterday afternoon and I took far too many photographs.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Belly Flop
Bathing Beauty
I can spend far to much time watching the Gulls in the bay. They are always willing to pose and are ideal subjects for target practice. Black Headed, Black Backed and the usual Herring Gulls were all doing stupid things in the water and still had time to annoy the tourists.
White Chalk
As the clouds cleared and patches of sunlight moved across the bay, the chalk cliffs that lead to the Pinnacles changed from dark grey to bright white.
This was taken from the Pier Head Cafe, on of the finest places in town to have a coffee and watch the world go by.
Saturday, 29 October 2011
A Coffee Break
During the (always necessary) break for a coffee and a pasty it was time for a little target practise.
Blue Tits are always good for that!
Time To Leave Home
There were two Peregrines on the cliffs his morning, which was even more of a treat than usual because I have my big lens back.
This, I think, is one of the youngster still bothering its parents and sulking when he didn't get any food.
Room With A View
The weather has been temperamental lately, to say the least. Blue skies one minute, grey clouds and rain the next.
This is a bit of a lazy shot taken from the house, because I haven't been able to get out with the camera during the week.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
The New Arrival
Today, finally, my new website was born.
She looks very good and appears to be fit and healthy with only a few minor imperfections (my fault).
Feel free to have a look and see what you think at www.purbeckfootprints.co.uk.
Many thanks to Wimborne Business Systems for making this possible.
Monday, 24 October 2011
Fair Weather Friend
There were plenty of Common Darters to see yesterday, making use of the fine weather. I doubt if you would see many today though.
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Caution: Do Not Touch!
I have been trying to get a shot of (what I think is) a Fox Moth caterpillar for a while now, but the don't like to pose.
It isn't a creature that you can keep re-positioning either, the hairs can irritate the skin and leave you wishing that you had concentrated on Ladybirds....
Scared Of The Tightrope?
The high winds this morning meant that we had to retire to the shelter of the woods to look for bugs and beasts. One Ladybird stood out amongst the many flies and (if it is possible for a Ladybird to look worried) he looked a little worried.
Saturday, 22 October 2011
October Sunbathing
We saw a few Adders today, which is always a bit of a treat, but I couldn't get close. These two females were in the usual Adder hotspot above the entrance to Tilly Whim.
Stinking Iris
The hedgerows are still full of berries, but not for much longer I suppose.Besides the Sloes and Blackberries the bright orange Stinking Iris really stands out.
Look North
One of my favourite views from Durlston, looking North-ish across Swanage and its bay to Old Harry with Bournemouth in the distance.
Quite a view on a clear day and today was very clear.
Sunday, 16 October 2011
And Another
A young Swallow being handled by ringers at Durlston yesterday. Lovely to see and a great opportunity for a close-up.
A Sideways Glance
As I am without a big lens at the moment this is the only way I am going to get close to these birds.
A few chaps were ringing again at Durlston Country Park yesterday and they let me take a few snaps.
It is good to get so close to these little birds and good of the ringers to let me bug them.
Plenty of Swallows and House Martins, a few Goldfinches and this young Linnet.
Saturday, 15 October 2011
London Bound
After a couple of hours, during which time a train load of people hopefully spent lots of money in the town, a new engine took the train back to London.
All great to see on a beautiful, blue sky October day.
(this is Tangmere)
Oliver Cromwell
Another posh steam engine travelled to the Isle of Purbeck from London today and that meant another excuse to play with black & white shots.
There were too many people around to get a side on shot and the bright sunlight was playing havoc with the shutter speeds so I tried to get all artistic!
(for the train buffs, the engine at the front is Oliver Cromwell, the one in the background is Tangmere)
Thursday, 13 October 2011
The Black Horse
Walking as the Sun goes down is something I do not do enough of. Tonight, we left home just as the Sun was setting and returned when the moon was high in the sky. A cracking walk it was too, with plenty of Foxes, a couple of Owls and something that grunted in the dark of a hedge.
On the way back we passed Tony's horses, big shire-like chaps that are surprisingly good at creeping up on you.
After Dinner Speaking
There is very little time during the week to get out with the camera but tonight I managed a bit of a twilight walk.
As the Sun went down on a beautiful day, people started to disappear and the Foxes came out to play.
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Target Practice
I have managed to borrow a camera ad a 400mm lens as my 500 is off to the menders.
Not a great deal to point it at this morning but I was quite pleased when a single Dunnock sat and posed for a while.
Lord Of The Rings
I have seen birds being netted and ringed before but this is the first time I have got close. I was invited back stage by a very nice chap who was not only knowledgeable but obviously cared a great deal for the birds he handled.
He had two young female Blackcaps when I saw him and it really was good to get this close.
Head On
There were quite a few Red Admirals around today, including one that looked as if it had only just popped out.
This one was a little more ragged.
Monday, 3 October 2011
Less Darting, More Resting
Is it just me, or is this Common Darter starting to look a little aged? This one was quite happily soaking up the Sun while I snapped away.
Small Worlds
Hidden away in the woods, on the remains of an unlucky tree, was a recycling centre that is open 24 hours a day and accepts everything.
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Late Breakfast
A few Dragons, butterflies and assorted bugs and beasts were available for this mornings but the Wasp Spider was a first for me.
Far From The Madding Crowd
With the weather staying warm and sunny, finding a quiet spot was always going to be difficult. Not impossible though, for a little while it was just us and the Sika enjoying the Sun.
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Sunlight Through A Speckled Wood
Plenty of warm Sun, this morning, meant that there were still plenty of butterflies around. They were not hanging around though and I really struggled to take a shot. This Speckled Wood sat with his back to the Sun and wasn't put off by me sticking a camera in his face.
Shameless Advertising
It is calendar time again and this year I have released three. One for landscapes, one for the wildlife and one for the beasts and bugs.
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