Bring on the cubs

It is that time of year again and although I am not getting out and about as often as I would like, it is time to find Fox cubs, sit back and watch.
I can't get enough of these incredible animals and the youngsters are very addictive, I find it easy to spend far too much time with them.

Hare Styles

As the Sun was setting a long low ridge of cloud that stretched from horizon to horizon, east to west moved slowly arcross the sky. It was time to move on.
I had already decided not to stay too long on the cliffs though because the brisk wind was making photography difficult and the chance of falling off, more real. On the way to the cliffs I had seen three Hares charging around a field with a further two not far away trying to keep out of the wind.
On the way back I decided to try to get close to one of the more relaxed looking Hares (although on reflection I am not sure what a relaxed Hare looks like) and, taking a long spiral path around the animal I got closer and closer. It is good fun doing this but I can't kid myself into thinking that I am some sort of master stalker, if the Hare wanted to run it would run! It was obvious that he knew exactly where I was.
I found a spot that I decided was close enough and settled down to watch. This is the part that I really enjoy, being close enough to enter the world of the animal but distant enough for it not to be too bothered at the tresspass. Taking the photographs is important of course, but putting the camera down and watching eye to eye instead of through the lens is important too. After all, the Hare is one of our more special animals and deserves that little bit of respect.

It's That Time of Year Again

At this time of year, with a bit of luck, our local mammal population expands a little and evening walks take a change for the better with the chance to see youngsters taking their first steps. Foxes, Sika and Roe Deer are the most numerous but Badgers are around too. It is hard to choose a favourite but the Roe Deer is certainly up there and I take any opportunity to stay with them for as long as I can. When the fawns are very young however, I keep my distance. The bond between mother & child is fragile and easily broken.

Sunday Morning Gannets

Rain and very low cloud meant that I was cameraless on my walk this morning, this meant of course that there was bound to be something lovely to point my camera at!
At Peveril Point, one of my favourite places, Gannets were feeding very close to land and one of the great things about these beautiful birds is that they show up very well on even the dullest of days.
So, a quick detour to fetch the camera and then back to the cliffs, just in time for more rain...

Roes, Blues and evening wanders

I have been neglecting my evening walks lately, it seems like I have only just got back to some sort of normality after my exhibition. I am not complaining though, being busy with framing and ordering prints is something that I really enjoy and I am taking it as a good sign.
Most of my walks are early morning these days and I'm not complaining about that either, this is a perfect time of day.
Apart from the ever-present Roe Deer, butterflies are starting to appear in numbers meaning that the macro lens gets the dust blown off of it. I can spend far too much time sat in the meadows snapping away at beasts and bugs.

Monday Evening Pheonix

By the time the Sun started to set the rain had long gone leaving a glorious evening. The Pheonix sat very still in the bay basking in golden light, a far cry from the weather it battled through just few hours before.

Changeable Weather

When I arrived at Durlston Castle this morning the clouds were low and the rain was doing its best to ruin my mood. What the rain didn't know was that today is day eight of my ten day exhibition and for the next three days I will be here chatting to people, showing off my photographs and generally acting like a proper photographer. No amount of bad weather was ever going to ruin my mood.
Looking from the cliffs there were plenty of seabirds battling the wind and rain, as you would expect, but then out of the mist came The Pheonix.
Rolling and pitching its way from Plymouth, it seemed far to small to deal with this morning's waves but still managed to reach the shelter of Swanage Bay.
Not long after this, the Sun started breaking through the clouds and the skies changed from grey to blue.