My photographs of the month for September and October

Here is my photographs for September and October. A little late but I hope that you enjoy them!

September
A moody, grey September day was prefect for a wild walk. All the hallmarks of autumn could be seen, felt and smelt. Trees laden with berries, but bare of leaves. Mushrooms pushing up through the fallen foliage. Birds everywhere, taking advantage of the time of plenty.

I saw this crow strutting across the ground, before picking a higher vantage point in the bare branches of a birch tree. So picture perfect I lifted my camera and this was the result!

October
Another autumnal day, this time the air was crisp and cold but the light was warm and golden. A great day to visit the park and watch the cheeky squirrels squabble over conkers and berries.

I watched one run down a yew tree trunk, completely oblivious to me. I managed to catch the very moment the squirrel noticed me!

My photograph of the month for May and June

A little catch up on my photographs for the last two months.

May
May’s photograph was an easy choice, on a daily exercise I had the good fortune to see three foxes hunting in an open field. I was able to stand and watch them for a long 15 minutes before I was noticed. Incredible opportunity to see such beautiful animals on the hunt!

June
With June being the month of the Wildlife Trust’s #30DaysWild, I had so many wild moments and photographs to choose from. It was a hard to pick just one photo. I settled on a family photo of the Peregrine Falcons of Worcester Cathedral!

#30DaysWild – Day 28 – Went for a bat walk!

Today, despite the wind, I decided that I would take evening stroll with my bat detector. I knew the patch I wanted to visit, a nearby canal tunnel that comes out onto a wooded area. It is always teeming with bats and tonight was no different.

Using my bat detector I was able hear and identify the bats as Common and Soprano Pipistrelles. As they whipped overhead I was also able to see and film them.

I did take the time to just watch these tiny flying mammals. A few swirled around where I stood while others darted down the tree line. Bats are fascinating creatures with incredible aerobatic skills. This was a truly thrilling experience!

#30DaysWild – Day 8 – Squirrel!

Squirrel! Lots of squirrels!

I visited one of my favourite parks in a nearby town today, I have been promising myself a trip there since Christmas. I love it, it is the home to so many squirrels! They are clearly used to people, and will come quite close if you stay still.

I had the delight in watching one chewing the bark off a twig while playing with it at the same time! I managed to video it and you can watch that below!

I will have to make sure I visit again very soon!

My photograph of the month for April

I have to say that this month I have never been so grateful to live in such a beautiful place in the world. I have had the chance to admire some wonderful local wildlife, including this gorgeous little Water vole! I spotted the beauty while walking along the local canal towpath.

My favourite wildlife moment of 2019

I had wanted to publish this blog over the new year, unfortunately I had a nasty bout of flu so I had to delay this post.

In November I took a trip that I had wanted to do for a few years. It was to Donna Nook, famous for grey seals. In November and December the grey seals come up onto the beach in huge numbers to breed. It is an impressive sight! The day was wonderful, the baby seals were adorable! What I wasn’t expecting was the noise of the seals, so loud you can hear from the car park. It is an eerie sound, yet somehow it is enchanting!

The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust do a fantastic job of counting and looking out for the safety of the seals, while also taking the time to talk with visitors about the seals and the local wildlife.

I took so many photos that I did have a hard time choosing which ones to share with you. There are a lot of cute baby seal photos, but as you will see, there was room for other wildlife to live amongst these magnificent marine mammals.

I am already looking forward to visiting again next year!

#30DaysWild – highlights from 2019

Here are my highlights from #30DaysWild 2019. Moving house, while working full time and joining in with 30 Days Wild wasn’t easy, but it was very worth it!

One of the best things I have done all month is putting up the bird feeder in my new home. It didn’t take long for the birds to find it! I now have regular visits from Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Robins, Blackbirds, Sparrows. I also have Collared Doves and Wood Pigeons hovering up the dropped crumbs. Winding down from a day at work, I now find myself sitting with my cuppa and watching my new feathered friends!

#30DaysWild – Day 25 – Herons and Hares

Driving along a single track country lane that clearly had seen very little or no traffic, I saw a sight that lead me to ask the driver to stop. It was a field full of Herons! 5 of them, stood right in the middle, it looked to be 2 parents and 3 young. There were 3 Hares just a few meters away from the towering birds!

As I lifted my camera, the Heron family took flight. They gracefully flew over the hedgerow and into the next field, still a great view even if the birds were another 100 yards away from me.

My photos aren’t great, but they are still a record of a spectacular sight!

 

 

 

#30DaysWild – Day 16 – Bradgate Park wild weekend

As it was Bradgate Park’s Wild Weekend, I thought I would pop along and see what was going on. I have been the last few years and have really enjoyed myself and this year was not an exception. The stands of all the wildlife and conservation organisations were all very interesting, the people manning them were clearly all very passionate. I will look forward to next year’s event!

The walk to and from the event was full of wildlife – cheeky jackdaws, fuzzy little ducklings, pollen covered bees, noisy grasshoppers and of course the park’s resident deer.

A thoroughly pleasant day and a very welcome break from the rain!

#30DaysWild – Day 11 – Soggy wildlife

Today I got a little soggy out in the wind and rain, at least I got to go inside to dry off. I can only sympathise with the wildlife that is stuck out in this seemingly unending cold wet weather!