Sunday 29 January 2012

Grass? Snake!

Grass? Snake! by julian sawyer
Grass? Snake!, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

Give them a little Sun and the Tilly Whim Adders will almost certainly make an appearance. They are always good to see but for most of the time you are lucky to a shot of grass with a bit of snake in it!

Black, White, Blue and Brown

A Black-backed Gull, a setting Sun, choppy water and distant reed beds!
There really wasn't a great deal else going on so I was quite happy to see this, it gave me something to aim at!

Precarious Perch

Precarious Perch by julian sawyer
Precarious Perch, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

Like any other walker I am fully aware of the existance of Gorse! No matter what I am wearing or where I decide to go I end up discovering just how sharp the needles are!
The Robin seemed a little more at ease with it!

Saturday 28 January 2012


There really is no excuse not to support these chaps. The lads and lasses from the Swanage Lifeboat spent a very chilly day washing cars to raise money for their Lifejacket Appeal.   Not a bad job too, thank you very much, considering the state of my car!

Small Bird, Slow Speeds

Small Bird, Slow Speeds by julian sawyer
Small Bird, Slow Speeds, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

There was just a single Goldcrest in the trees, doing its best to keep out of sight! It was very gloomy but I couldn't move on without taking a few pics. Out of a couple of dozen shots, there was one that I was quite pleased with.

Thursday 26 January 2012

Meet The Twins

Meet The Twins by julian sawyer
Meet The Twins, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

It was a real pleasure to see these two again today. There was the full family of Roe deer, the stag (with a set of velvet covered antlers) the mother, a two year old female and these two.
Not a bad start to the morning.

All Gold

All Gold by julian sawyer
All Gold, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

I just managed to catch this tonight, but only after upsetting several other road users. I don't really know why they complained, I was only in the middle of the road for 1:300th of a second or so....

View On Black and large

Sunday 22 January 2012

Runaround

Runaround by julian sawyer
Runaround, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

It wasn't easy following a small flock of Fieldfares! A skittish bird at the best of times, today had the added distraction of a controlled explosion by the Royal Navy Bomd Disposal chaps, a whistling dog walker and a single, battered Red Admiral butterfly! The butterfly didn't actually disturb the birds, but it surprised me! Butterflies in January?

Winter Reds

Winter Reds by julian sawyer
Winter Reds, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

Another bird that I have wanted to get closer too, and another bird that proved too difficult.
There are plenty of Redwings around at the moment, but not many willing to pose.

Saturday 21 January 2012

Lunch & A Large Bill

Lunch & A Large Bill by julian sawyer
Lunch & A Large Bill, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

I don't spend enough time taking shots of wading birds even though I live so close to Poole Harbour. Following a rather well timed meeting I managed to spend a little bit of time watching the Godwits, Oyster Catchers, Turnstones and Sandpipers searching for the neext juicy worm. Next time, I need a bit more Sun.

More Corfe

More Corfe by julian sawyer
More Corfe, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

There are so many fine views of Corfe Castle and these all change as the sun makes its way across the sky. This was taken on a stormy day, just before sunset.

Fly Past

Fly Past by julian sawyer
Fly Past, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

On days when birds and animals prefer to hide away out of the wind, there are always the Gulls.

Sunday 15 January 2012

Cream Teas & Cromwell

Cream Teas & Cromwell by julian sawyer
Cream Teas & Cromwell, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.


It is not hard to imagine what Corfe Castle would have looked like if Oliver Cromwell hadn't have got his way. On a beautiful blue sky day, the Purbeck has several 'must go' places, but today we spent a very nice few hours following the deer and the Redwings. There was even a chance for a cream tea and a history lesson!

Jenny & The Stick

Jenny & The Stick by julian sawyer
Jenny & The Stick, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

It is so easy to get carried away when you have such a cute little model to play with. We spent about half an hour with this little Wren, then time caught up with us and we had to move on.
I would like to think that we were both a little bit disappointed to finish the game.

Whatever The Wren Can Do, I can Do Better

You can always rely on a Robin to pose and, even though most of the time my camera was pointing at a Wren, I just can't resist a Robin.

Saturday 14 January 2012

Double Trouble

Double Trouble by julian sawyer
Double Trouble, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

With two Peregrines on the cliffs this morning the local pigeons were forced to keep their eyes open.
On a cold, cloudy morning, with the only sun shining way out on the horizon, these two really brightened things up a bit.

Eye Contact

Eye Contact by julian sawyer
Eye Contact, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

The stare of a Peregrine is enough to send a chill down your spine, even if you are looking through a long lens!

Friday 13 January 2012

Mists and Rivers

Mists and Rivers by julian sawyer
Mists and Rivers, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

When the winter mists rise from the lowlands the Isle of Purbeck really does become an island.
Where there is mist there is mystery and once familiar land becomes new and unreliable , playing tricks with your senses and giving you the feeling that perhaps your are not quite as safe as you thought you were.

Thursday 12 January 2012

More Flash and More Castle

This time, the flash was set off half way through a 6 second exposure. It was placed behind the railings to the right of the entrance.
I think I prefer the other shot!

Castle Lights

Castle Lights by julian sawyer
Castle Lights, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

I have been wanting to take night shots of Durlston Castle for a while but the weather had to be right.
I didn't realise that there were 'goings on' going on and that meant cars parked too close.
Anyway, it was great fun.
This one is a 6 second exposure, 200 @ F6.3 and no flash.

Monday 9 January 2012

Shameless Advertising

Shameless Advertising by julian sawyer
Shameless Advertising, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

Our three calendars have done really well this year but there are still a few left, available from the website (www.purbeckfootprints.co.uk) or at Durlston Country Park near Swanage.

Thank you to everyone that has bought a calendar, I know there are hundreds out there to choose from and I feel privileged that you chose mine.

Thanks also for taking an interest in my blog and for all of your comments.

I hope you all have a fine 2012.

Julian

Sunday 8 January 2012

Fungi Stalking

Fungi Stalking by julian sawyer
Fungi Stalking, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

In woodland positvely teaming with very noisy and very active birds, I decided to use my incredible tracking skills on a very shy group of fungi!
Just call me Bear Grylls...

Still No Lunch

Still No Lunch by julian sawyer
Still No Lunch, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

This is one of our local Peregrines doing its best not to do anything interesting. She (I think) was quite close but refused to rip apart a pigeon or stretch her wings or yawn or anything.
Still, lovely to see, even without the Sun.

Durlston Castle

Durlston Castle by julian sawyer
Durlston Castle, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

It is a bit of a challenge to get a shot of Durlston Castle, without people in front, these days.
The sun had just started to creep towards the front of the castle as another group desended the path towards me.
I would have prefered a more dramatic sky, but I quite like shot.

Saturday 7 January 2012

Grumpy

Grumpy by julian sawyer
Grumpy, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

Not every one was happy with the weather! This little Firecrest was very unhappy and made it very clear that he didn't want his photo taken!

Hedge House

Hedge House by julian sawyer
Hedge House, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

Very common, very cute, very noisy and most importantly today, very happy to sit still!

Concrete Pipit

Concrete Pipit by julian sawyer
Concrete Pipit, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

One of the prettiest little birds that you see on the shore is the Rock Pipit. This one followed us along the beach for an hour and was very patient.

U.F.O.

U.F.O. by julian sawyer
U.F.O., a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.

A strange golden ball was seen in the sky today and it played havoc with my camera. Settings that I hadn't used for ages were suddenly needed and I had to brush up on old skills.
Luckily, the Moorhen was happy to watch me try and take photos.

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Far From The Madding Crowd


Again the weather was against me and so again I had to go looking for easier targets. There were far too many people around today and, like the Sika, I left the popular tracks and headed to the more secluded areas.There were six or seven young females here and it was very easy to relax and enjoy the company.

Gloom And Ruins

Gloom And Ruins by julian sawyer
Gloom And Ruins, a photo by julian sawyer on Flickr.


As the new year dawned it was obvious that the weather was not going to be kind again. Trying to take shots of moving animals or birds when the light is this bad is no fun at all and so I relied on a more sedentary target. Corfe Catle hasn't moved much in about 1000 years (apart from the bits that have fallen off). Tomorrow there is the promise of some much needed Sun and so I will try again then.

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...