Sunday 31 October 2010

Catching Some Rays


Catching Some Rays, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

One of the benifits of all the rain we have had this week is that mushrooms are springing up everywhere. I always like finding these little chaps and if you can find them in a patch of sunlight, all the better.

Saturday 30 October 2010

Bright Gold


Bright Gold, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Changeable, I think, describes todays weather best. One minute we had bright sunshine, the next , black clouds and hardly any light at all.
Plenty of little birds around though, including dozens of Goldfinches.

Hang On


Hang On, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Great Tits, Robins, Blue Tits, Goldfinches and a few Dunnocks were all trying to get into this shot, and they were making plenty of noise.
My camera has started to make a very strange noise too,which is a little worrying. I don't know whether it is effecting my shots so I can't use that excuse yet.
But lets just not mention the short but wonderful view of the Peregrine that I couldn't photograph because I had forgotten to take the lens cap off!

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Twiggy


Twiggy, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

One of my favourite birds, the Long-Tailed Tit is ridiculously cute. There was a gang of about a dozen of these tumbling through the hedges. At one point they were so close, I couldn't use my camera because I only had the big lens.
Dark mornings and darker evenings mean that my wandering time is more limited than ever, making times like this even more special.

Monday 25 October 2010

Wild At Heart


Wild At Heart, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Always a favourite and always seemingly willing to pose, the Robin brightens up whatever he is sat on.

Dartford View


Dartford View, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

I see a few of these at the moment, more this year than last, I think. But the Dartford Warbler is still a bird that I struggle with. This one sat still long enough for just one shot and then disappeared in the Gorse. Once I lowered the camera, of course, he popped his smug little head up again.

Sunday 24 October 2010

Sika


Sika, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Well, we have had Sika for about six months now and she is doing pretty well. When we first found her, she couldn't run very well and had trouble controlling her long legs.
Now, she is as mad as cheese and incredibly fast, which always makes for interesting walks.

Benny


Benny, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Benny is still the boss and has really taken Sika under his wing. He is a bit of a complex chap (like many rescue dogs, I suppose) and I will always be surprised at how well the two of them get on.

Saturday 23 October 2010

Still Singing


Still Singing, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

There were dozens of Chifchaffs around this morning and they were making plenty of noise.

Old Man & The Sea


Old Man & The Sea, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

As usual, not a lot of time for a walk after work. To make things worse, the wind picked up and the clouds started to close in.
At this time of year, the pale remnants of Old Man's Beard flowers always remind me of frost and it changes the face of the hedgrerows. Just in case you missed the fact that Winter is well and trully on the way.

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Blacks and Shadows


Blacks and Shadows, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Looking like something out of The Omen, this Crow sat here for far too long. Big old birds these and quite intimidating when they are sat, just a few feet away from your right ear, when you are trying to focus on other things.

Very Special Forces


Very Special Forces, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

If these chaps aren't S.B.S. then they are Royal Marines. Either way, to get through night manoeuvres, returning to base just as the Sun came up, you have to be pretty special.

Monday 18 October 2010

Anger Management


Anger Management, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Something really stirred up this chap. I have never heard a Squirrel get quite so upset!
He was shaking and squawking and quite frankly, going way over the top.
I don't know, maybe someone nicked his acorns?

Dog Fight


Dog Fight, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

We watched these two Kestrels having a right ding dong for over an hour yesterday. There were three, but one kept out of it all.
A bit of a tight crop on this one, it all happened near the top of the chalk cliffs at Ballard.

Sunday 17 October 2010

Pipits of the Earth


Pipits of the Earth, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

As regular as clockwork, you can always rely on a Rock Pipit to follow as you wander along under the chalk cliffs. For the best part of three hours, the Pipit and his Wheatear mate kept tabs on us.
Not a bad way to spend a morning.

Coast Watch


Coast Watch, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Quite a look of concentration on this chap, even though, just a few minutes before he was tumbling along the rocks with a few friends. The Wheatears and Rock Pipits may have been put off by the largest number of sea canoes I seen around here for a while.

Saturday 16 October 2010

The Last Post


The Last Post, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Plenty of little birds around today, but not too many were willing to hang around and pose. The Stonechats competed against the Robins for the Cutest Bird Award and this time, for once, they came out on top.

Aerial Ballet


Aerial Ballet, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

At one time there were half a dozen Crows having a go at this Kestrel. It ducked and dived for about ten minutes before it finally shook off the last two.
A huge crop on this one but, even though it was almost directly into the Sun, I quite like it.

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Stag Night


Stag Night, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Technically, this shot was not taken at night, but I thought 'Stag Teatime' made for a rather stupid title.
At this time of year the Sika are fully tooled up and ready for action, this 8 point stag is one of the bigger lads.

Monday 11 October 2010

Blue Sky Thinking


Blue Sky Thinking, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Another beautiful day means two things:
1. That I must be at work
2. That I realise just how quickly it gets dark.
There is precious little time at the end of the day during the week and so I have to resort to drive-by shootings and stolen walks to erm... contemplate stuff..

Chiffchaff Chat


Chiffchaff Chat, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Another shot from last nights wander. The light really was special, I don't think you can beat the Golden Hour just as the Sun is going down. This Chiffchaff was one of dozens of little birds that bounced through the trees and hedges, making far too much noise.

Sunday 10 October 2010

Out Of Season


Out Of Season, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

After a break of far too many days I managed to venture back to the cliffs. The light was just about perfect and, as the Sun slowly set behind the hills, this little Wheatear took a minute to watch.

Ivy League


Ivy League, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Time to show off my almost legendary knack for getting the names of birds wrong. This may or may not be a female Stonechat. As usual, any positive i.d. would be appreciated.

Thursday 7 October 2010

Sika, Most Hunted


Sika, Most Hunted, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

This was taken on the home this afternoon, it was very dull, rainy and the wind was picking up. I have seen white Roe, Fallow and Reds, but never a white Sika. The play rut going on in the background was even more of a bonus.

White Sika Stag


White Sika Stag, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Another shot from this afternoon of my first white Sika stag. This chap is two or three years old, so he has been around for a while but he wasn't keen on people. Unfortunately, white Stags don't tend to live as long because of hunting or exclusion from the herd so maybe that isn't a bad thing.

Sunday 3 October 2010

The Nature of Purbeck Calendar 2011



Finally, I have finished preparing my 2011 calendar. It's not easy picking the shots from this year and it takes a while.
I'm quite pleased with this one though.

Quiet but never silent.

I missed the Sun this morning, not because I was late but because the early wander was done and dusted by the time the clouds cleared. When...