tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87823021769421174612024-02-19T07:41:07.033+00:00Wild Tamworth Birding and wildlife around Tamworth and further afield.Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-48324243081516405022018-09-08T22:43:00.002+01:002018-09-08T22:49:25.329+01:00Novagrade Universal Adapter - Update to an old post It has been a good while since I last posted anything on this blog. I think Facebook groups and Twitter took over. I was looking through the blog the other day. I was thinking of taking it offline as a few of the links to pictures no longer seem to work.<br />
<br />
I received a message about this post requesting to see some of the pictures as the links no longer worked. I had a look and updated it a little. I have added some new pictures to the original post just show the type of record shots I have taken with the phone and adapter.<br />
<br />
When I took thisYellow Wagtail picture, I also took some HD video. The advantage of an adapter over hand holding really becomes apparent here. The phone is held perfectly aligned while the video is recorded. For some reason I have still not fathomed, my blog will not play you tube videos in HD. So if you want to see it, it's best viewed on my you site. Just click <a href="http://youtu.be/b5u4i0CXw0o" target="_self" title="">HERE</a><br />
I have also managed to spend some more time using the Novagrade Adapter with my iPhone 4S and this is probably the best shot I have managed so far.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWWaCQK0JET2t-vfxCFinM20H9SW-6FYqd7ps-ZdHL0kMDVfaQZBt1Whu6GT5DcusV5AszkohfcRmApMQy-ekd5HbNDr0hlaOuHzEYwQ4ZnQEVSeDP7KDPH-SCqKzZb4Tt_Gz33sFQoEh/s1600/Photo+20140513223202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWWaCQK0JET2t-vfxCFinM20H9SW-6FYqd7ps-ZdHL0kMDVfaQZBt1Whu6GT5DcusV5AszkohfcRmApMQy-ekd5HbNDr0hlaOuHzEYwQ4ZnQEVSeDP7KDPH-SCqKzZb4Tt_Gz33sFQoEh/s640/Photo+20140513223202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">
</div>
This sharpness of focus is a direct result of perfect phone to eyepiece alignment, and the phone being held absolutely still. This demonstrates the difference an adapter can make to your results.<br />
Obviously, conditions are not always ideal. Light is always an issue with digiscoping. It's also true to say that regardless of how big a lens you have, the closer you can get to your subject, the better your results. This is the reason photographers and birders often fall out.<br />
I have taken a few shots in what I would consider far from ideal conditions. Low light, distant from the subject, or facing into the light due to the position of the subject relative to me. The results, well I would say they are decent record shots and as good as I would get from a dedicated camera and long lens in identical conditions.<br />
I will keep doing what I do and sharing the results on here. Well, here are a few of those record shots I mentioned.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE0T3rIpfH-A3xSszf0jmRiGCyk0dwoq7zI2DUtcCGC3khdSgJm9G6JmvdanX5GAnk_99pGyTk2E-Ujpoe_EpeCUVaD7tUbVPH3RgBn6YXEW4hNMT9szWIX8aM-NkYAFwzKcI7dzvLvr0/s1600/Photo+201411196_54_18+pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE0T3rIpfH-A3xSszf0jmRiGCyk0dwoq7zI2DUtcCGC3khdSgJm9G6JmvdanX5GAnk_99pGyTk2E-Ujpoe_EpeCUVaD7tUbVPH3RgBn6YXEW4hNMT9szWIX8aM-NkYAFwzKcI7dzvLvr0/s640/Photo+201411196_54_18+pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lwaqyJoRzTG8Ap8uHAjldP2zH7VjAnloAbMog3HOsAUsu8j8_MVb_YY_gmEmK77FS2t3lAUnk_lW_IJZZTZczg-LpT8yyGupg2poRaivwKDSjufyFHYVhDlrnRSg95Dn5M_Ta7ZtZEme/s1600/Photo+2014110510_36_13+pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lwaqyJoRzTG8Ap8uHAjldP2zH7VjAnloAbMog3HOsAUsu8j8_MVb_YY_gmEmK77FS2t3lAUnk_lW_IJZZTZczg-LpT8yyGupg2poRaivwKDSjufyFHYVhDlrnRSg95Dn5M_Ta7ZtZEme/s640/Photo+2014110510_36_13+pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy5mPqAvAh0KyObVdT4jaJ7CdcPan-V_9SFCEpFafmaKRAVcULZjO3MvygoPzpozN71bRP7-C-LasfkYTHL3GPponsUJBa7yVodL6D4r8AxwN19b1Estjo1Bfhzwso2gEM90TKqGPRLUg/s1600/Photo+20140822065235+pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1389" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy5mPqAvAh0KyObVdT4jaJ7CdcPan-V_9SFCEpFafmaKRAVcULZjO3MvygoPzpozN71bRP7-C-LasfkYTHL3GPponsUJBa7yVodL6D4r8AxwN19b1Estjo1Bfhzwso2gEM90TKqGPRLUg/s640/Photo+20140822065235+pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdo8e6NoTGmlu2PxRnYQyxQyVVmvqmjQq8RrUYuBbDcQZW-v-3lzmY0T_lejrjH1Vx8lxUNzIJ9ITZ7fGFmo8YOJA4j_mzxBmVrVYJJaADBTJQqD6kRwDhqiJ__OATeFpiC84W5eLQ8dc/s1600/Photo+20140827040937+pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdo8e6NoTGmlu2PxRnYQyxQyVVmvqmjQq8RrUYuBbDcQZW-v-3lzmY0T_lejrjH1Vx8lxUNzIJ9ITZ7fGFmo8YOJA4j_mzxBmVrVYJJaADBTJQqD6kRwDhqiJ__OATeFpiC84W5eLQ8dc/s640/Photo+20140827040937+pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RNWjmdTjkY3Zz7B-U3C8PT-cwzoWcbhLl-z1nVTXlepx-VOmsdLQD7TDZmf-_APZeiYsDgYOo8fckTauVDIMXVr98lnimPA-zYPUBoogd4UqAoL9pJpxzt9wL92CE-TWBSG-DoTJUbhP/s1600/Photo+20140914034315+pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RNWjmdTjkY3Zz7B-U3C8PT-cwzoWcbhLl-z1nVTXlepx-VOmsdLQD7TDZmf-_APZeiYsDgYOo8fckTauVDIMXVr98lnimPA-zYPUBoogd4UqAoL9pJpxzt9wL92CE-TWBSG-DoTJUbhP/s640/Photo+20140914034315+pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-15T9WaBII30HLgYwbj0qV23le1yJ6c4XEsbSojhLYz8uNbynCTl3cIFECUOOi3_kc-oEu9kmeAGSf1GMynUkJEkdJVfC28p9tk-mFsPUQ25xnbR4uM5eviQ0hGrKijCFZTPP3KeRlo8-/s1600/Wood+iphone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="1600" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-15T9WaBII30HLgYwbj0qV23le1yJ6c4XEsbSojhLYz8uNbynCTl3cIFECUOOi3_kc-oEu9kmeAGSf1GMynUkJEkdJVfC28p9tk-mFsPUQ25xnbR4uM5eviQ0hGrKijCFZTPP3KeRlo8-/s640/Wood+iphone.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfhybfd2IoC1rYYiVvAYMY2ESgFQw7Jm1B0JDfj7ZaMdcfIRffozDhj5EmYfGgqd7Tt3ZhsA8Y7lydiKUcEqET4_kynATR84NYvYil02puEkvGcIo_Yqk5uTl5fo2S7fguaqtrEVw0IyA/s1600/Kez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfhybfd2IoC1rYYiVvAYMY2ESgFQw7Jm1B0JDfj7ZaMdcfIRffozDhj5EmYfGgqd7Tt3ZhsA8Y7lydiKUcEqET4_kynATR84NYvYil02puEkvGcIo_Yqk5uTl5fo2S7fguaqtrEVw0IyA/s640/Kez.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Obviously, many pictures were only fit for the delete button. However, I am happy with some of these and very pleased with a couple of them. Remember I'm not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination and don't claim to be. I'm a birder with a smartphone always in his pocket and now, an adapter to hold it steady and in correct alignment.<br />
Note - a couple of people have now asked if I am sponsered by or affiliated in some way to Novagrade. The answer is ..... Other than being a customer, No I'm not! (I'm always open to offers though.)<br />
I can assure anyone interested that I put my hand in my pocket and brought and paid for my Novagrade adapter with my own hard earned money. I am sharing the fact I am pleased with the product, because I believe in giving credit where it is due. It may still be early days, but at this point, I am very happy with my purchase and my results.<br />
<br />
<div id="blogsy_footer" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-29442322831077162582017-04-24T22:29:00.003+01:002017-04-24T22:29:35.942+01:00Tame Valley OtterWith my trail cameras, I have managed to capture pictures of many local badgers and foxes, a few muntjac, and even a polecat which I have captured on camera twice. However, an Otter by design is a challenge I recently set for myself.<br />
<br />
I spent hours walking the banks of our local rivers looking for otter signs and activity. I found spraints, tracks in the mud and even the odd tail drag, but that alone is only half the battle when positioning a trail camera. You also have to consider if the location you have chosen to position the camera allows for the camera to be concealed from human sight. If it isn't, it's quite likely you won't ever see your trail camera again.<br />
<br />
I eventually found a promising looking spot of wet sediment just above current water level that was covered in a myriad of animal tracks. I could make out water bird and duck footprints, mixed with rat and a couple of decent looking mink tracks. There were so many tracks it was difficult to be sure of some of them as they all merged together, but there were two tracks that looked like they could have been left by an otter to me. There was no tail drag visible, and only four toes/pads evident rather than the five in a text book otter print, but in reality, text book prints tend to only exist in text books!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFWbiOR5h7SwupM1v9Uydi70D450uHCYAJN16LNMIQZoD-uVNKgXBxn-i6zlfmtJAv4ls-EDPpye9K9BN3Q5xvLBl6RaR9ett00DUGMh0iyPE2MTE4TC0RUMSgBoxH7z5peeXeM8KyUD_/s1600/foot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFWbiOR5h7SwupM1v9Uydi70D450uHCYAJN16LNMIQZoD-uVNKgXBxn-i6zlfmtJAv4ls-EDPpye9K9BN3Q5xvLBl6RaR9ett00DUGMh0iyPE2MTE4TC0RUMSgBoxH7z5peeXeM8KyUD_/s400/foot.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I smoothed the mud over and left it waiting to receive more tracks.<br />
<br />
I returned a few days later and again it was a mixture of interlaced prints with origins of fur and feather. There was one promising looking print that again looked good for an otter, a good pad size, but again only four toes/pads visible.<br />
<br />
I returned later that day and set up a trail camera to see what it would reveal.<br />
<br />
First results were poor! The trail camera position needed some refining but, I did learn from the footage where I should put the camera for best results. It also confirmed an otter was indeed passing through this area.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgut4rpTJuFWXLnW0qqqkjJDC5tExKuaNNBz5TL4dF6_RSEVb-3J_LEn2_x_jls2JYUeeED7hAT2SpGjufNu288eRmChyphenhyphenWaFZBiaYpjH2M9LaJ3XSlF4B185rU5l9PtEGIIe5RQWtSHNiez/s1600/otter+first.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgut4rpTJuFWXLnW0qqqkjJDC5tExKuaNNBz5TL4dF6_RSEVb-3J_LEn2_x_jls2JYUeeED7hAT2SpGjufNu288eRmChyphenhyphenWaFZBiaYpjH2M9LaJ3XSlF4B185rU5l9PtEGIIe5RQWtSHNiez/s400/otter+first.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First attempt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I repositioned the camera and left it to its own devices hoping I could get some better results for my efforts.<br />
<br />
I was very pleased with my second attempt after repositioning the trail camera. Some decent otter record shots.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMgPSXNJlZ9uJjqKNcsJ0xvZvy0mOagEQ2m-2xtpSjHOUWt9tRLCoDq3hXSHJW26pOm_SrRcap0yCTgmNNYznDarvPJ8TQsFZtz57W2QnKY-JP-cE7VFjMxT8_nsHJsCJiZDA6NMUzBJ7/s1600/Collage_HD+2017-04-24+19_00_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMgPSXNJlZ9uJjqKNcsJ0xvZvy0mOagEQ2m-2xtpSjHOUWt9tRLCoDq3hXSHJW26pOm_SrRcap0yCTgmNNYznDarvPJ8TQsFZtz57W2QnKY-JP-cE7VFjMxT8_nsHJsCJiZDA6NMUzBJ7/s400/Collage_HD+2017-04-24+19_00_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Also, a bit of video footage. I am learning the ropes with my new video editing program, this is the best of many attempts.<br />
<br />
You can see the otter is cautious approaching the camera and backs away. Maybe it heard the PIR sensor click as it activated, or noticed the dull red glow of the infrared illuminator. Or, maybe it is just exhibiting natural caution to an unfamiliar object in its territory.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_rZTUaeuU10/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_rZTUaeuU10?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-35968152752236423362017-03-18T13:41:00.001+00:002017-03-18T13:41:39.929+00:00Stonechats on the PatchI have been wandering around in all my usual areas seeing what's about, but this has been a quiet period from end of February to early March.<br />
<br />
There are still a few Goosander about on the local rivers and pools and the Black headed gulls are noisily establishing their nesting sites. Light values for any type of photography have been appalling, but there is literally light on the horizon. The Spring is coming and we should all see a strange glow overhead called the Sun, I even spotted it myself the other day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUFeOHNRzGbcHoYgY-tXpS2bbwNm1dj0TdHhIyF-Hd9ADEYHvBMILyNK8Z7TLuqlSLMeFtxTdl5F-3K6mngbiP2x3IHUmyuZfgMK4MTZbs9UMhL99onO4SLZnRanbk86H3k3RUN1CF2Kg/s1600/Goosandertame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUFeOHNRzGbcHoYgY-tXpS2bbwNm1dj0TdHhIyF-Hd9ADEYHvBMILyNK8Z7TLuqlSLMeFtxTdl5F-3K6mngbiP2x3IHUmyuZfgMK4MTZbs9UMhL99onO4SLZnRanbk86H3k3RUN1CF2Kg/s640/Goosandertame.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We have discovered a well worn trail through a reedbed and decided to place a trail camera there to see what was using it. This is the second time of trying at this location. First time a bramble strand fell in front of the camera and set the motion sensor off until the memory card was full. Over a 1000 bramble pictures!<br />
<br />
This time, Storm Doris took its toll on false triggering of the camera as everything swayed about and debris blew past. There were a few decent pictures captured though.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PRsiY1Nn3BiGla3f8jo_Q34P518na0Nbal3u2ru_JszXaIj381XD5DJL4I3D9uUoKuwtju86s5hgMdixv1GgigJu63vqgnpxndNbiuf1CkAZSzxN1i2SuSnHDqfDQKywjvRqfTuSgvzy/s1600/Reedrun01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PRsiY1Nn3BiGla3f8jo_Q34P518na0Nbal3u2ru_JszXaIj381XD5DJL4I3D9uUoKuwtju86s5hgMdixv1GgigJu63vqgnpxndNbiuf1CkAZSzxN1i2SuSnHDqfDQKywjvRqfTuSgvzy/s640/Reedrun01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXHPZrpkKWtmtdWrl_-zLTTkPioDzbRQnC-w37sEVPegag6GFsuJe08ZzDgAbBf30aTEWwWyd8Jtu80lZZxTWb1RiXC6JGg1fjc_z-jRlbR_L3BB_Hi9QegL0JTNIDSfkbznUY0JUMbsk/s1600/reedrun02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXHPZrpkKWtmtdWrl_-zLTTkPioDzbRQnC-w37sEVPegag6GFsuJe08ZzDgAbBf30aTEWwWyd8Jtu80lZZxTWb1RiXC6JGg1fjc_z-jRlbR_L3BB_Hi9QegL0JTNIDSfkbznUY0JUMbsk/s640/reedrun02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Highlights were a pair of Barnacle Geese that appeared and hung around with the Canada geese.<br />
<br />
This one was taken with my camera hand held. They were distant!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAZN-WWh8H9QZCWOC6S3zSjz9jQ4iwH5PibDJkcDt8iM3sveJ1P3V9g8GTaTqCYoZeUFPsPmL88iK1laNHszHb_dTUbV7NB6-XspEsdzrdJGoS9hC-tlnoNiAIXjY-v-R6LVD_lebEuHI/s1600/Barnacle+G3X.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAZN-WWh8H9QZCWOC6S3zSjz9jQ4iwH5PibDJkcDt8iM3sveJ1P3V9g8GTaTqCYoZeUFPsPmL88iK1laNHszHb_dTUbV7NB6-XspEsdzrdJGoS9hC-tlnoNiAIXjY-v-R6LVD_lebEuHI/s640/Barnacle+G3X.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
These were Digiscoped<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHwC_YPW8PtwewlhXnbTxCzHPv3DT3p-O83TXdory21IUPFG0GY2gorzuNriiQWi4teqfEd2zVJ_O4sQwC9jP0RqK559I4HjWuxdeIMXwTR2FI0TuNgbS0WOBKwUWKkhOfRM32xK36Myt/s1600/barnacle+DS02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHwC_YPW8PtwewlhXnbTxCzHPv3DT3p-O83TXdory21IUPFG0GY2gorzuNriiQWi4teqfEd2zVJ_O4sQwC9jP0RqK559I4HjWuxdeIMXwTR2FI0TuNgbS0WOBKwUWKkhOfRM32xK36Myt/s640/barnacle+DS02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHz6BrvcWaTkyDXsEzIOKah19dzfl_ZFydcx75gtgu0_dBal6HxDFQCHVWU3RE6LTdwpFbNwcxUT-mMb1hhJdSzHOv1CB2lvK9R-a48MubRPb_rAmEE0NFVbNjMXvPUWEQKLX5DKEEfhz/s1600/barnacle+DS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHz6BrvcWaTkyDXsEzIOKah19dzfl_ZFydcx75gtgu0_dBal6HxDFQCHVWU3RE6LTdwpFbNwcxUT-mMb1hhJdSzHOv1CB2lvK9R-a48MubRPb_rAmEE0NFVbNjMXvPUWEQKLX5DKEEfhz/s640/barnacle+DS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
However, a first on the Moors for me were Stonechat's that Pete found while out walking. It started with three nice males and a female, later in the week<br />
a fourth male appeared. They hung around for about a week in the same area but have now moved on.<br />
<br />
Canon G3X - hand held. Very distant.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1lTOsR02U_eqjSXBED8QL-m815E-1KC9ONf2LRoMgTtG_Z8lpxsnezUNfuWNBQjOb1iEj75NcrLblq8e6sByfhqfOVaRwll7eAt8g71aHrpk7G4XTCUZ1QLW6WDzO9G8QAZjSy1Befkq/s1600/Stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1lTOsR02U_eqjSXBED8QL-m815E-1KC9ONf2LRoMgTtG_Z8lpxsnezUNfuWNBQjOb1iEj75NcrLblq8e6sByfhqfOVaRwll7eAt8g71aHrpk7G4XTCUZ1QLW6WDzO9G8QAZjSy1Befkq/s640/Stone.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-90895098852426744812017-02-22T21:32:00.000+00:002017-02-22T21:35:45.602+00:00Staying LocalI have been staying very local recently wandering around areas I consider my local patch. I have found a pair of Buzzards that seem to have laid claim to an area of woodland, and a pair of Ravens that have done the same. I will keep an eye on these and see how things develop.<br />
<br />
On 4th Feb Pete and I had excellent views of a Red Kite on Old Warks Moors. A first time sighting for us both on this patch. It was being relentlessly mobbed by crows and eventually drifted off with a posse of screaming corvids in pursuit.<br />
<br />
Fox sightings are noticeably down, but I expect that is due to the females starting to den up in preparation for the birth of this years cubs.<br />
<br />
There have been a couple of local otter sightings reported to me recently, I have yet to see one locally myself this year, my last sighting being in December 2016.<br />
<br />
I checked out the local gravel pits on Monday 20th looking for Oystercatchers. I heard one calling in the dark as it flew over on Sunday evening. Sure enough there were a pair at Tameside Nature Reserve. There were also two Shelduck at Tameside, but they departed before I was in a position to photograph them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQBp03rkcp8gWb1oPxX_o9Hxq80d1KP-6LHqyaQI-tV8uvB84Z4qdIHgmwYHkm3r0UXCpGLnLOoQPEUlWb5c3wM_3Z6NXJVe2dhRyyDsqWr8Q6lsFaVtE4A5gJAVea6EdTage4zISIswl/s1600/Oyster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQBp03rkcp8gWb1oPxX_o9Hxq80d1KP-6LHqyaQI-tV8uvB84Z4qdIHgmwYHkm3r0UXCpGLnLOoQPEUlWb5c3wM_3Z6NXJVe2dhRyyDsqWr8Q6lsFaVtE4A5gJAVea6EdTage4zISIswl/s640/Oyster.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A walk along the river also produced one male and two female Goosander. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht20jH-8QbpBuRRk1gRzVrva2HNxnW1PNxietMtwxLIP2kwP2XV8WFJlYJ5YjLwRz9x1kf7jiY1BV4j4UOouPSPl_Jx_CXlt97A1oDHiQPBDzDV9GBaRc1FCCal6iYAfYGx4a5Yry8szSL/s1600/Goosander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht20jH-8QbpBuRRk1gRzVrva2HNxnW1PNxietMtwxLIP2kwP2XV8WFJlYJ5YjLwRz9x1kf7jiY1BV4j4UOouPSPl_Jx_CXlt97A1oDHiQPBDzDV9GBaRc1FCCal6iYAfYGx4a5Yry8szSL/s640/Goosander.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
Tameside is fast shaping up as an excellent oasis for local wildlife thanks to the hard work of the volunteers that constantly strive to maintain and improve the available habitat. The recently created "Tracey Island" is looking good and I have already seen, Little Grebe, Kingfisher and Grey wagtail regularly on and around it. I was also impressed with current work being undertaken in the form of a Sand Martin bank. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Tracey Island</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHXkTEfPMpyMVbBvVYrKFHFUrueG6i_ZjpUUKBeocdNAvn_x99_-Y5akIC634fiDhjedWQsE6T_vK3k82d4uYxy9XHuuXqQ3GvbDsJnjqSiED6N3GVQMYLpkq5O3LVV2_vrz5wKQlZPOh/s1600/Tracey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHXkTEfPMpyMVbBvVYrKFHFUrueG6i_ZjpUUKBeocdNAvn_x99_-Y5akIC634fiDhjedWQsE6T_vK3k82d4uYxy9XHuuXqQ3GvbDsJnjqSiED6N3GVQMYLpkq5O3LVV2_vrz5wKQlZPOh/s640/Tracey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sand Martin bank in Progress.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2-j6fKH3HL1KhJ96xydQp5toi64097S3pxsV28Gt4Yh9vB2xOGaYZP3rK0LyNgAx50xIA5NzSjh2KSobVSGsQsfv-9mxfG5OYZsmCBvUyeB3iFLGBE07xdSB1wnxNJtmxR7uoCmqOZTW/s1600/sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2-j6fKH3HL1KhJ96xydQp5toi64097S3pxsV28Gt4Yh9vB2xOGaYZP3rK0LyNgAx50xIA5NzSjh2KSobVSGsQsfv-9mxfG5OYZsmCBvUyeB3iFLGBE07xdSB1wnxNJtmxR7uoCmqOZTW/s640/sand.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Tuesday evening I spent an hour watching some local badgers worming on the plough. The rain has provided them with a good supply of worms. Some sound or movement undetected by me spooked them and they charged off back towards the sett. I waited five minutes to see if they reappeared. They didn't, so I quietly walked past the sett and to an area I know they visit to feed. I placed a trail camera intending to collect it early morning. A few nice captures!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5wSDdmI5Oy-Fdb3q_NlE9R3A3yB1jagTZxFNpv2oQVE4js0NuFgW9OLkiw1Tqc5faiFsuOw7GaatoptJFL8sje0ceDB2NlARN4GbfmvJrTElmIvR14S8swsy4tCR74T0ERxVXofTV29p/s1600/trog02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5wSDdmI5Oy-Fdb3q_NlE9R3A3yB1jagTZxFNpv2oQVE4js0NuFgW9OLkiw1Tqc5faiFsuOw7GaatoptJFL8sje0ceDB2NlARN4GbfmvJrTElmIvR14S8swsy4tCR74T0ERxVXofTV29p/s640/trog02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPa7XSt7Bp5HIeQj9wPDoXViCqJq7dgXEquisvOS4ye-zHeS6sR38QPSeL4co9XtFrxbEUP07n08Ck__0aZFcWifQsNsLWr9K4mwTLGMfC6eHWDxOI3ZANwNmasCuZBMaxtvmhyphenhyphenYlYBcp/s1600/trog01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPa7XSt7Bp5HIeQj9wPDoXViCqJq7dgXEquisvOS4ye-zHeS6sR38QPSeL4co9XtFrxbEUP07n08Ck__0aZFcWifQsNsLWr9K4mwTLGMfC6eHWDxOI3ZANwNmasCuZBMaxtvmhyphenhyphenYlYBcp/s640/trog01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbj500iEwzq2tfsBaElK8Hd0AKIQoLLctJDIJmg92PFcHjH2lrKtKp0ZSq2lx5MuGYh-fGUtdTbt4bcAhUD_hegrwe0kPT8z3vUak1qP1u-F6lRSE6lqSpYwrX6enXfAQY_WF2xDbIJ6Q/s1600/rey01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbj500iEwzq2tfsBaElK8Hd0AKIQoLLctJDIJmg92PFcHjH2lrKtKp0ZSq2lx5MuGYh-fGUtdTbt4bcAhUD_hegrwe0kPT8z3vUak1qP1u-F6lRSE6lqSpYwrX6enXfAQY_WF2xDbIJ6Q/s640/rey01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This has motivated me to get the trail cameras out again. I will set a couple up on some obvious animal highways and see what they produce.Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-15678770452255907732017-01-24T21:57:00.001+00:002017-01-24T22:05:14.579+00:00It's been a while<br />
My first post of 2017 and its been a good start. Between birding, fox and
badger watching, setting trail cameras and fishing, I haven't found the time to
sit down a write any blog entries. The trail cameras have been out regularly
recording what is going on in the hours of darkness. I have a lot of badger
footage from a new sett that I am pleased with. The trail cameras have also
been showing a lot more nocturnal fox activity than usual. <br />
<br />
January is a busy month for foxes with last years cubs being driven off by
parents if they are still hanging around. These dispersing youngsters are
now looking for their own territory. This is also the height of the fox
breeding season. Hearing the repeated contact calls of foxes when out in the
dark this month has been interesting.<br />
<br />
The males will stay very close to the vixens during January to make sure
they are at hand when she is ready to mate. This very active month for our
foxes accounts for their regular appearance on the trail cameras and also the
variety of individuals recorded.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWLn25HAPjE18sDWSt__Uo76IdsrrCytwhYUBYbyINFUc12BTBLSvuBWOvmirZKY0CwLDRVsQUR-1-IWqjQDQHjpJr6RZH26tkYVh35r81IU2Sztu53fwUzu2IRFZ66P0RlhrY930sPV_/s1600/Badgers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWLn25HAPjE18sDWSt__Uo76IdsrrCytwhYUBYbyINFUc12BTBLSvuBWOvmirZKY0CwLDRVsQUR-1-IWqjQDQHjpJr6RZH26tkYVh35r81IU2Sztu53fwUzu2IRFZ66P0RlhrY930sPV_/s400/Badgers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewlDvsIDsq2ZDTJJMG97nK0-PmqIiymt1_aB-A32HbDsb-I-muhM1fm3memXnF3Q0QACP6gD78qCpPT4DnngiWlIZqf91pJXEe0Zx-eI3Ku3sQbvNtyq7Zvv0gUir5XO6DXtC75vytdXg/s1600/Fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewlDvsIDsq2ZDTJJMG97nK0-PmqIiymt1_aB-A32HbDsb-I-muhM1fm3memXnF3Q0QACP6gD78qCpPT4DnngiWlIZqf91pJXEe0Zx-eI3Ku3sQbvNtyq7Zvv0gUir5XO6DXtC75vytdXg/s400/Fox.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Early in the new year I also decided to spend a bit of time fishing our
local rivers. In cold conditions Chub can often be tempted to feed and so are
quite catchable. They are an impressive looking brassy flanked fish and a very
worthy quarry. I admire and photograph them, then return them back to
their watery home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEOI1mnwYUtTXDNuyz3ghEJdcsb1jkMnkmjLvHoeLAWV3P-iareDBWGMgHc_2FV6XJ8uZToddZFeLtWO0uExbbA51qipcEmdkPISWu-bqdx0x5P5gxbBxTXhVWTJ7DXfIeKnrKDEzOw9A/s1600/Chub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEOI1mnwYUtTXDNuyz3ghEJdcsb1jkMnkmjLvHoeLAWV3P-iareDBWGMgHc_2FV6XJ8uZToddZFeLtWO0uExbbA51qipcEmdkPISWu-bqdx0x5P5gxbBxTXhVWTJ7DXfIeKnrKDEzOw9A/s400/Chub.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Last weekend I noticed reports of large numbers of
waxwings in Brownhills town centre. I set off early on Sunday morning and
arrived well before light. The illumination of the town by signs and street lights
allowed me to wander about looking for the waxwings. It was pretty cold with the
car thermometer showing -3⁰C. Eventually before it was light enough to take photographs, I found them. I assume that this was their roost tree for the night, the flock was around 150 individuals strong. As light levels increased the waxwings began to get restless and then, they were mobbed by a pair of magpies which sent them up and split the flock. I did manage a few pictures between my camera and iPhone through the spotting scope</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Camera</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeMOYIWtb5ByjYddlVIvVMMZNojh433_nU5mxX2872sGTHCLb4YA9JveIUWLWkDIuNTH8PlmkJfI3qBdR4LfCJgARfXsYG65X7wExZG-lzCyH3c6C534_-XlijLwzcwtKFtZz_MHXocEr/s1600/G3X+02+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeMOYIWtb5ByjYddlVIvVMMZNojh433_nU5mxX2872sGTHCLb4YA9JveIUWLWkDIuNTH8PlmkJfI3qBdR4LfCJgARfXsYG65X7wExZG-lzCyH3c6C534_-XlijLwzcwtKFtZz_MHXocEr/s400/G3X+02+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDzRupucZ3XwYueyK9yjGWxDEKeQ-NRhP7_Py6YW24tN9f1vY6R_bvsE8LPyGSx4qRlmRGFwO2w2DkWnXp6i46vglv7f2pdnzL3QG1LW_x77yKTUXteWZnPnNnDZa1luuTn6_bISto5bN/s1600/G3X+01+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDzRupucZ3XwYueyK9yjGWxDEKeQ-NRhP7_Py6YW24tN9f1vY6R_bvsE8LPyGSx4qRlmRGFwO2w2DkWnXp6i46vglv7f2pdnzL3QG1LW_x77yKTUXteWZnPnNnDZa1luuTn6_bISto5bN/s400/G3X+01+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Phonescoped<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqackqMoD9Ue1rOhQwX0g41etY76kQyQdNC88M5faTYLikry6KdlG3AswuZS6Z6lTkWB0-C0kbTWZWDR4LmRw8Q_q2t7Yi_FBAzDUGGfDuZRo1PSwflDH_D9DwMc5A_t9FoJxH3cEfXiB/s1600/Waxphone+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqackqMoD9Ue1rOhQwX0g41etY76kQyQdNC88M5faTYLikry6KdlG3AswuZS6Z6lTkWB0-C0kbTWZWDR4LmRw8Q_q2t7Yi_FBAzDUGGfDuZRo1PSwflDH_D9DwMc5A_t9FoJxH3cEfXiB/s400/Waxphone+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQLWhhg4znnzJskdZtTYT5SromvQV_SCofH7SdTTxCoVP0r16PLp2vQ579WeM8RuQciumgKyhL4jTAvxBWqAkRU359QkQvKLofiWX7fyxTCPlwjL1dcrPNZWVx8kHDNHu-qZhED2Ufm7f/s1600/Waxphone02+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQLWhhg4znnzJskdZtTYT5SromvQV_SCofH7SdTTxCoVP0r16PLp2vQ579WeM8RuQciumgKyhL4jTAvxBWqAkRU359QkQvKLofiWX7fyxTCPlwjL1dcrPNZWVx8kHDNHu-qZhED2Ufm7f/s400/Waxphone02+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13px;">
A local dog walker stopped for a chat and was interested in what the birds were. She told me that the row of trees in front of me had been laden with berries, but none were evident now. As the waxwings began to disperse I assumed that they would be very mobile today seeking a new food source. I wonder where they will turn up next?</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-75453073691630842832016-11-13T22:53:00.002+00:002016-11-13T22:58:05.344+00:00Trail-Cam seasonThe best thing about late autumn early winter, is that it's time to get the trail cameras out and situate them in some interesting areas. I spend the summer months making mental notes of places I visit that I would like to put a trail camera in. Pete also has a list of places he fancies setting a trail camera at, and we also have favourite spots from previous years.<br />
<br />
We positioned two cameras recently and left them out for 12 days. One was in an old favourite spot, a nice way to start the trail camera season off, and the other in a new location. At the end of the allotted time, we collected the cameras in, and went to the pub for the evening along with my laptop to wade through just short of 900 pictures.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4HTQ-S1lcNrHM_5rotWjDgD52LSyIaDvuaUly2irHLEH9SdrVMKmveMG3tvg-9SElQAKHvG-KrjIEEWFROjwPvs8mp8X6u__qED0Z3-3OfDINWj6KZZAVRc355CvZXmLyWsqO1LcYaTp/s1600/pub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4HTQ-S1lcNrHM_5rotWjDgD52LSyIaDvuaUly2irHLEH9SdrVMKmveMG3tvg-9SElQAKHvG-KrjIEEWFROjwPvs8mp8X6u__qED0Z3-3OfDINWj6KZZAVRc355CvZXmLyWsqO1LcYaTp/s640/pub.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
The new location did produce some interesting results, but the tried and tested spot again produced the goods. Day and night visiting foxes, a pair of badgers, one being a old acquaintance from encounters involving actual observations when badger watching, and previous captures on trail camera. I have recorded this particular badger with the light stripe on its back and flank at two different setts some distance apart. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhz7_OOY6GWjs8y0Kj4c5ryelhMNrTVmn-7Hh-tMCksplYIeSQ0IEDpSHLQXzJCgK45azXpXdRe2BXAYA_kIiVb0FHZgTeuJPDpzJ5CVgdXtfOsDePdeG0PNoabFHN_JHHk_5lL2j_POe/s1600/Badger+bw+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhz7_OOY6GWjs8y0Kj4c5ryelhMNrTVmn-7Hh-tMCksplYIeSQ0IEDpSHLQXzJCgK45azXpXdRe2BXAYA_kIiVb0FHZgTeuJPDpzJ5CVgdXtfOsDePdeG0PNoabFHN_JHHk_5lL2j_POe/s640/Badger+bw+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Old Friend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I believe the current smaller sett that is located near this trail camera was probably an emergency refuge or satellite sett in the past, but as the population of the original sett increased, these badgers relocated on a more permanent basis. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvsSuakoRlsygQOQrExLHaDTRh8FpfBchcwZmuOxr7A5YtrnUUKtgBnygiS2mIg6Z8BTciY3KB8HY7As2x3IS9dzSnoGEPORDTDulkoE7MDb6dja1N0tCDGCGOUk9Sbu6z6JlvVT-RroT/s1600/Badger+bw+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvsSuakoRlsygQOQrExLHaDTRh8FpfBchcwZmuOxr7A5YtrnUUKtgBnygiS2mIg6Z8BTciY3KB8HY7As2x3IS9dzSnoGEPORDTDulkoE7MDb6dja1N0tCDGCGOUk9Sbu6z6JlvVT-RroT/s640/Badger+bw+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Badgers in the mist</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Foxes were also busy in the area, this is a natural animal highway and no pre-baiting or artificial feeding was carried out. From the pictures, it looks like three different foxes regularly pass through the area. This is one of them, the most photogenic and a real poser.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w6MrtBT6QhnCgvvKJUraBRTlXRqfQ10LuGD5bCaw0Zl-sBJ3OsStlI7HF07a75676xBiYUmPrD9kFcvHijONagsEZTtnsIj_Dea76-TDFaX_zhbX9oh4NlcqF80MR601tPHWIt283Ssh/s1600/fox+bw+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w6MrtBT6QhnCgvvKJUraBRTlXRqfQ10LuGD5bCaw0Zl-sBJ3OsStlI7HF07a75676xBiYUmPrD9kFcvHijONagsEZTtnsIj_Dea76-TDFaX_zhbX9oh4NlcqF80MR601tPHWIt283Ssh/s640/fox+bw+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlicYEf30UK5ictu5ykxypcFBT5n9wsoDKuo6Iw1uNtRtRk-jFEKiAjA2WtPxmdCC7RIUz4EVx0ZIuMYvDg3FXjsNk-xHCF063VUNKu67GzfkLI58CmpoZX_NPhH4lMRxBTocyShAw3ww/s1600/fox+bw+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlicYEf30UK5ictu5ykxypcFBT5n9wsoDKuo6Iw1uNtRtRk-jFEKiAjA2WtPxmdCC7RIUz4EVx0ZIuMYvDg3FXjsNk-xHCF063VUNKu67GzfkLI58CmpoZX_NPhH4lMRxBTocyShAw3ww/s640/fox+bw+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFKRcFUb9qO-imggf-Z7XYpR4pPhP4CZ_HXMFpR-u5aOw9ckXpys0CDLcktKu47Lcm7r8RnJym-0AQwQt2u6J2gngSUM-zJH3nIHNh3vPsZCstPp-DF6zPF4JXUsiXBL0oSUu_tdayOnS/s1600/fox+col.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFKRcFUb9qO-imggf-Z7XYpR4pPhP4CZ_HXMFpR-u5aOw9ckXpys0CDLcktKu47Lcm7r8RnJym-0AQwQt2u6J2gngSUM-zJH3nIHNh3vPsZCstPp-DF6zPF4JXUsiXBL0oSUu_tdayOnS/s640/fox+col.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The real surprise was what looks very much like a Polecat. I will have to put a camera back in this area to try and recapture it and hopefully get some clearer images.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMMovuzz1MPUroHz49UOBzl_crkcxD8nH7215U51fywuJvqvXgAcxSx1X6xZLRvQSJne2Jf3bYE5TpZeNiVER6MmOgthorRf83nDQyVfFA2fsg766aAqp5FVCZHmnowSe5vhoWR6y_XKM/s1600/polecat_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMMovuzz1MPUroHz49UOBzl_crkcxD8nH7215U51fywuJvqvXgAcxSx1X6xZLRvQSJne2Jf3bYE5TpZeNiVER6MmOgthorRf83nDQyVfFA2fsg766aAqp5FVCZHmnowSe5vhoWR6y_XKM/s640/polecat_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm looking forward to seeing what the trail cameras record this winter.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-71363813760900184952016-10-01T15:21:00.001+01:002016-10-01T21:41:02.453+01:00A Privilege <p style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Still trying to photograph the badgers I watch on a regular basis with my bridge camera. It poses a variety of challenges in total darkness, but it's fun trying. I have spent many enjoyable hours watching badgers and really wanted to capture some of the moments on camera.</span></p>
<p style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">This particular cete of badgers have allowed me some fantastic views and the opportunity to study their behaviour at relatively close quarters. </span></p>
<p style="font-size: 18px;"><img style="float: left; width: 700px; height: auto;" title="IMG_6973.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OSooYSsMcvU/V_Ae6c6bEQI/AAAAAAAAa6g/WzeEsmcEbHU/IMG_6973.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 6973" width="700" height="466" border="0" id="id_f78_f516_d8b6_68a7"></p>
<p style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"> </span></p>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><img id="id_44d9_824d_aada_2df9" style="width: 698px; height: auto; margin: 4px;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mXvZWkUw4eQ/V-_GPXtHkgI/AAAAAAAAa5g/L4nxQpPCcgY/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt=""> </span></div>
<p style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><img id="id_38c1_5d9d_d525_f7b1" style="width: 698px; height: auto; margin: 4px;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E_XAvgkRiWQ/V-_GVPKG2NI/AAAAAAAAa5k/SGgU5LOuQ78/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt=""> </span></p>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><img id="id_df02_b7c4_b7a0_518d" style="width: 698px; height: auto; margin: 4px;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DnsQXsU-TIw/V-_GaAizsTI/AAAAAAAAa5o/EA80F-6DG1c/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt=""> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><img title="Badgerflash.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcslhbKV3XWPgdRUpoExXSHyLTFFVa-L3A_TTWhLKKmSQ45mX8rgYFQ5draWGqThayIkjnfuzbxtIpJru5UaEo1jUicOgrQOXm4-4pmHnUvs10zeKD131UiYZvtxZ5xIRiE0Zk2AAIGX3k/?imgmax=1600" alt="Badgerflash" width="700" height="483" border="0" id="id_7372_e504_95ce_9a11" style="width: 700px; height: auto;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">The only thing that should ever be fired at a badger is the shutter of a camera. It is an atrocity that this government continues to pursue a cull of healthy badgers in a misguided attempt to bring bovine TB under control. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">The only thing that will reduce TB in cattle herds is improvements in farming techniques, increased biosecurity and testing of cattle herds and stringent <span style="text-align: justify;">controls over the movement of cattle in conjunction with increasing use of vaccination.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">I do not imagine for a moment the government believe that this cull of our badgers will eradicate or even reduce TB in the nations cattle herds. They do however believe that the rural and farming vote can be maintained by peddling this propaganda and deceit.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">A quote I came across recently illustrates this well</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br></span></span></div>
<div>
<h2 class="font_2" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-size: 34px; line-height: normal; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; color: #605e5e; text-align: center;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; font-family: futura-lt-w01-light, sans-serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><em>"I think the most interesting observation was made to me by a senior politician, who said, 'Fine, John, we accept your science, but we have to offer farmers a carrot. And the only carrot we can possibly give them is culling badgers"</em></span></span></span></h2>
<p><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif;">Professor John Bourne </strong><em style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif;">Former Chairman, Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB</em></p>
<p><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; font-family: futura-lt-w01-light, sans-serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><em><br></em></span></span></span></p>
</div>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-80270899263072685812016-09-04T08:51:00.001+01:002016-09-04T09:09:15.880+01:00Keep an eye out for Brian.<p style="font-size: 15px;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Local Sett blog.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nsGN8gqOqkV2rZiIs7YSIOyUNe1s68UvH9RSH7SxgCfmWmUqlDZM4PewGoQBiyxB3IuyP378he_VPkislmwliiQreNW_XdMLMLJtpvjjVjRsvyaLc28oLwRepgxvMLgnbLii7XC7XlQx/?imgmax=1600" alt="Local Sett blog" width="700" height="448" border="0" /></p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">Well unfortunately it’s that time of year again, the time when rifles are at the ready and pointed at our badgers. The cull has not only returned, it has been extended to three new counties.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">The cull targets for badgers to be killed in each county is frightening, and the fact this slaughter continues, a national disgrace.</p>
<h2 class="story-body__crosshead" style="border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Badger cull targets for 2016</span></h2>
<p style="border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>Devon: Minimum 3,358, maximum 4,558</strong></p>
<p style="border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>Cornwall: Minimum 2,173, maximum 2,950 </strong></p>
<p style="border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>Gloucestershire: Minimum 1,691, maximum 2,628 </strong></p>
<p style="border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>Dorset: Minimum 1,672, maximum 2,350</strong></p>
<p style="border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>Herefordshire: Minimum 872, maximum 1,183</strong></p>
<p style="border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>Somerset: Minimum 75, maximum 544</strong></p>
<p style="border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>Source: Natural England</strong></em></p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">There is no published data what-so-ever from the government to even tentatively support the Government’s stance that badgers spread Bovine TB to cattle. Not a shred of real evidence at all!</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">I feel it speaks volumes that the authorities involved in the cull have not tested any of the badgers already slaughtered to ascertain if they are actually infected with TB. I believe this is because they are fully aware that they are killing completely healthy badgers. If there was substantial published data to show this, I believe public opinion on the matter would significantly increase in opposition to this inhumane slaughter. The government just doesn’t want a paper trail of factual scientific data proving that the vast majority of badgers killed are perfectly healthy animals.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">I heard <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Meurig Raymond, president of the</span> NFU speaking on BBC Farming Today recently. When asked why there is no factual published data of any sort to substantiate claims that Badger culling is indeed reducing the spread of TB to cattle herds, he replied that the Anecdotal evidence demonstrated that the cull was indeed effective.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">Anecdotal evidence! Unbelievable! </p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">If you care to look into a real definition of Anecdotal evidence it will highlight that such evidence is, not necessarily true and certainly not reliable. It is completely based on personal opinion and has no real factual data or scientific research to substantiate it. By its very nature, anecdotal evidence tends to be cherry picked to support a personal belief, it isn’t factual and cannot be proved or disproved. In other words, it isn’t really evidence at all.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">On Tuesday evening Aug 30th, the cull again started in Gloustershire. I felt I would like to do more than make donations and sign petitions, so late afternoon on the 31st August found me joining the M5 heading towards a predetermined meeting point of the Gloustershire Against Badger Shooting (GABS) group to offer some assistance in patrolling the cull areas. A 120 mile round trip from my home here in Staffordshire. As I left the house, my wife gave me two instructions. </p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">1. "Remain law abiding.". - Not a problem, as GABS is a peaceful, law abiding campaign group. who ensure that their presence during cull periods is always via public footpaths.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">2. “Look out for Brian May!” I said I’d keep an eye out for him.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">I was made very welcome on my arrival by a group of seasoned GABS volunteers. These people really deserve our thanks. Giving up their free time and patrolling large areas of countryside at their own expense in all weathers. Staying out in the fields late into the night and still going to work in the morning. They try to be a constant presence during the cull periods, patrolling fields and monitoring setts in the cull areas every evening of the cull period in an attempt to save our badgers.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">They were very well organized, and we were split into groups to cover different areas of the cull zones known to contain active setts.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Untitled.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80ntZfZJG_o8kJblSoCfCAp2jDjFL7AQlcYzKKZpUZGUT4Gmjg3bMJb9SXfOBogpyn7ZT9HaoCYOjgtvbOzB55mgARaLP-Q4dshUYlWOpcADB4WRGNXIYvM4h8vrX6YLXF9VvbNV61Pa5/?imgmax=1600" alt="Untitled" width="700" height="700" border="0" /></p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">On the night in question, no shooting was seen or heard in the area we covered. Active setts were checked and we had a good walk around the fields and footpaths by torchlight. I particularly enjoyed walking in some outstanding countryside, seeing pipistrelle bats hunting around the fields and the great conversation. I also felt that I was helping in some small way. We didn’t see any badgers and although I was very vigilant, I didn’t see Brian May either.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">I would urge anyone who feels strongly against this cruel and inhuman culling policy to contact the Badger patrol and join them for an evening or two. It will be an experience you won’t forget, and you will meet some very friendly and like minded people. </p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;">Like me, you may initially feel that turning up to assist the badger patrols for one night is an insignificant act in the grand scheme of things. However, the total sum of many small acts can bring about massive change, and that is exactly what our wildlife and specifically our badgers need. I encourage anyone with an interest in our countryside and the welfare of our badgers to take part in at least one evenings patrol in one of the six target counties. You will I’m sure be made as welcome as I was. You will enjoy the company of like minded people while walking the countryside at night, you may even see a badger. So please give it a try and appreciate that you will be helping to save our badgers, and while you’re at it, don’t forget, keep an eye out for Brian!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-48903832036320210252016-08-30T10:36:00.001+01:002016-08-30T10:36:30.933+01:00Too busy to blog!<p>I’ve had a lot on recently and consequently the blog has not been updated for a while. Here are a few pictures of some of my sightings. A Great White Egret has been putting in regular appearances in the Tame Valley. I caught up with it in July.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="GWE03.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sAreG3Aje7k/V8VTYiPXbdI/AAAAAAAAZ0k/em08BsAiSFI/GWE03.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="GWE03" width="545" height="700" border="0" /></p>
<p>There was also a Long Tailed Duck sighted at Alvecote nature reserve in June</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="LTD01.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E4Qso8SHYis/V8VTaFXGO1I/AAAAAAAAZ0o/39a_CVi1R9Y/LTD01.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="LTD01" width="700" height="440" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="LTD02.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bE4ImP2yHXY/V8VTcaE5qPI/AAAAAAAAZ0s/yhzRulvi8Ns/LTD02.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="LTD02" width="700" height="452" border="0" /></p>
<p>I have also been having a go at some close up photography with my Canon G3X </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Macro04.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Mcu9Q8ql8v4/V8VTd-gxAcI/AAAAAAAAZ0w/rcM7aK1rlDk/Macro04.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Macro04" width="700" height="468" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Macro06.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SosXHhay41E/V8VTf_H5HGI/AAAAAAAAZ00/W2294dfZKnY/Macro06.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Macro06" width="700" height="469" border="0" /></p>
<p>My interest in Moths has grown and i’ve started to see what is about in my back garden. My moth trap arrived at the beginning of August and it has been interesting seeing what finds its way into it. </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6508.JPG" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgBga0hmdxKmDwyiUbSuU1dKpFb-kHp5u6sCeTvsQgCGUVT5y7bY-dpd15qreulPLzZiD0G1wD8RqAgF8vIUTp4i2TzDSemX_lyv4KcUny-07c-wWyQK2YBJY0Stlo_AzvsZXVJfJOswN/?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 6508" width="450" height="600" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6551.JPG" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirl0TjrRdDBsmzefzlSn8Z4j2LIkeQleNKJyzGIV1mujNGjM9tnQmjR0jCxNydC7DJrvBUWdHT9jovq-QrAQVgSLaTYX88Mxhq05UJ9Ct51Epao_k9yKmnSOWKhH0emGE_93aWbFvrL1dR/?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 6551" width="450" height="600" border="0" /></p>
<p>One of my favorites - An Angle Shades</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Angle.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx5PfAQhtX1SD8iBDT_y9vAoTJvjReTYBjeYg2wM6QA6D_dDNpNEsh41ok39Xfsoidbc1xhz3DMfQL-lxrZNoQOhlV36pBshv43PvXwVtEqGqY8BWxDAV1Vuef0ScHpW5KMfWipMQtLOa/?imgmax=1600" alt="Angle" width="640" height="444" border="0" /></p>
<p>A pair of Yellow Shouldered Thorns (looking directly down at them)</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="norfolk-2016_28998480546_o.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6def8iHAA98/V8VTnAAWdYI/AAAAAAAAZ1E/7UEafwQpMSk/norfolk-2016_28998480546_o.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Norfolk 2016 28998480546 o" width="700" height="700" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-53291741045960110162016-07-09T08:07:00.001+01:002016-07-18T15:52:51.701+01:00Shoot out<p><span style="font-size: large;">I have been watching some Spotted Flycatchers and decided to try and get some pictures of them. I have experienced conditions from raining, dull and overcast, to brief bright sunshine. I felt that they would provide a good opportunity to test my photography equipment out and see which gave me the best results. I'm pretty sure all the equipment is capable of better pictures than I can get out of them, but my ineptitude as a photographer is a constant variable thoughout these tests.</span></p>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">I started with my iPhone 6S connected to my scope with the Novagrade adapter.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div><img id="id_2a25_ca89_d2dc_6d10" style="width: 702px; height: auto; margin: 4px;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kzDqEiRz2gI/V4CiwTEep_I/AAAAAAAAWoI/w9dKeI7JB0c/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" /> </div>
<div> </div>
<div><img title="Flyphone.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDseG-1JvYH5rFB8qLGwcEmqdNSoJz4PVHjM4HauBmjlFiS44grmlgT0_0rRsFxz1uO1kB86MJgROYwrWiXR5UbbYFpRnD8LkNkpYCvoDNt5JTIvmVMTJhkwI5KdRhaMfEoEFxQiwkheb/?imgmax=1600" alt="Flyphone" width="700" height="499" border="0" /></div>
<div> </div>
<div> <span style="font-size: large;">These were from a batch of the best ones from my iPhone through the scope.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">I revisited a few days later with my Canon G3X bridge camera. As the light was poor I mounted the camera on a lightweight tripod so I could get away with slower shutter speeds and lower ISO's. These were all taken into the digital zoom region of the bridge camera. What Canon terms "fine digital.” These pictures turned out better than I expected considering poor light under the tree canopy and the distance involved.</span></div>
<div> <img id="id_c207_371d_46a2_50b6" style="width: 697px; height: auto; margin: 4px;" title="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zFLA9P6M8Zbq79vEDRT8Nq-vXsbIducl5JUJtiJ3624FSlInnYQInpgiaSUIPh0dAi4koRnV3vSeKuBd7cc8gy5qMp3ZORY4mux7JQBr7tDvabIHIOQYzOL5KCuLMcXVshDveoKExtOC/" alt="" /> </div>
<div><img title="IMG_0398.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uKmjWIOJ60k/V4vzsuu0AGI/AAAAAAAAXAc/8KDm7C5_kTw/IMG_0398.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0398" width="700" height="578" border="0" /></div>
<div> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><img style="float: left;" title="IMG_0422.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-03ceC4dfmaQ/V4vzuhDaRtI/AAAAAAAAXAg/7FIUFsQ7Efc/IMG_0422.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0422" width="700" height="447" border="0" /></div>
<div><img style="float: left;" title="IMG_0423.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ka7kHNiblc0/V4vzwJbzlcI/AAAAAAAAXAk/tA2Z_QtiE-A/IMG_0423.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0423" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></div>
<div> <img id="id_2cf2_7147_79a8_c5a6" style="width: 697px; height: auto; margin: 4px;" title="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5A-uHOqT48Bc0v5QPZ9GRUp3WTAtfFuXEeHAMbofi45czilHWIs9RprC621uStQCs_7amjka-HHhqr2vGERD8Bv6S9JsAVpy2KaBRJ-_w-kV4dTPPCmQ3tl2gS2InHjEB2Cn7Yyq81L-/" alt="" /> </div>
<div><img id="id_57df_dd22_714_e8b1" style="width: 697px; height: auto; margin: 4px;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EgGZuhEiSGM/V4JMycohjaI/AAAAAAAAWr8/yGPYQjVRlF0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" /> </div>
<div> <img id="id_a07a_175c_4c46_1d8" style="width: 697px; height: auto; margin: 4px;" title="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_TYuAHTVHFxVfWFNPe6rgXKvZPRvf1X2zyvXHIIs84_O0gMnqB_kUC5ChnVyhqoJC_J95XyyZXKUpHLRq6DwRurHf9bn4BFFDrHMvhN5svIRog6izX-NC6IlTjOip2D1n1NYskAu6-iM/" alt="" /> </div>
<div><img id="id_368f_e6eb_f399_936b" style="width: 697px; height: auto; margin: 4px;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sX79MTwIT6c/V4JM91RKccI/AAAAAAAAWsE/31h7LKKoibQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" /> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">However, the real star of this particular shoot out was the little Nikon P300 compact camera mounted to my scope. This little Digiscoping camera has long been discontinued by Nikon, but I may look for a second hand one as a spare. </span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">All these methods of capturing a picture of a distant bird have their pros and cons. However, for sheer versatility, the Canon G3X still wins hands down.</span></div>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-85611063209110062332016-06-13T22:44:00.001+01:002016-06-14T16:07:53.041+01:00Hares, Foxes and Badgers<p>It’s been over a month since I last posted anything on this blog. During that time, I have been putting any free moments into catching up with the local larger mammals on the patches I regularly walk. I have thought long and hard before posting these pictures as it inevitably leads to requests of “Where did you see these? I would like to see them myself.”</p>
<p>I decided I would share the pictures, I will not however share the whereabouts of any of the animals pictured. I hope you enjoy the photos and ask that you don’t put me in the position of refusing to share locations with you, as the way I refuse will almost certainly offend!</p>
<p>Hares are a real passion of mine. It always makes my day to encounter them when I’m out on my wanders and I am getting better at creeping up on them. I was worried at the beginning of the year that I had not seen many Hares on the land I walk. This is still true of areas that had a few last year but I have seen none this year. However, a couple of areas have produced the goods and I enjoy looking for the Hares in these areas. One spot has already seen the attention of two guys with running dogs, but they have now twice vacated the area quickly on my approach. They didn’t enjoy having the camera pointed at them and I have not seen them for a while. I would like to see these amazing creatures carry on and thrive in these areas.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="BHare01.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2iUc3LlkRFI/V18o7Ym7bjI/AAAAAAAAVRc/IUJLyxATWv8/BHare01.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="BHare01" width="700" height="467" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="BHare02.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BLDvl2L-afo/V18o9rNfJNI/AAAAAAAAVRk/8KS7gtbwcFw/BHare02.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="BHare02" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p>The Foxes have been a little more difficult to track down. The first is a dog fox and one of a pair I have been watching. At first, he was hunting very frequently, obviously providing for the vixen while she was denning with cubs. Recently, I have found him occasionally laid out sunning himself, as it seems he in no longer the sole provider of food to his brood. What I believe to be his mate can now be relied upon to make an appearance if I am willing to be patient and wait for her. This regular vixen is in quite good condition and has obviously been suckling cubs. I have recently seen her hunting rabbits. Twice I have watched her successfully catch and carry off a rabbit I expect to her cubs. The cubs will be old enough now to be left for short periods and she will also now be hunting as she starts the process of weaning the cubs off her milk. Fresh caught prey will become rapidly more significant in the cubs diet now, so both parents hunting should provide for their needs in this rabbit rich environment. My view point for two of these foxes doesn’t allow for decent pictures. I’m facing the setting sun, there is too much undergrowth and bramble and they are a little distant. It’s not all about photographs though, that’s just I bonus if and when conditions allow.</p>
<p>The third fox looks quite young, probably one of last years cubs. This yearling on the face of it looked in very good condition initially, but I suspect it may have a problem. Foxes do go through a heavy summer moult and some can look pretty tatty at this time of year. This youngster is almost moulted out, but i’m a little concerned by the condition of its tail. It looks like it may be suffering from the early stages of mange. I will keep a look out for this individual and see how things progress.</p>
<p>• I have seen this yearling again and the tail is not looking any worse. It does have a covering of fur along its whole length, so i’m hoping this is just a moult. Mange symptoms do tend to start at the tail base, but there tends to be complete hair loss in the affected area. If it hangs around, I will keep an eye on its process.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="FOXM.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQVmX7nW5b_TY22hVgeOFne5Nie1YEsvpFhXr4Dspi3QoYsySWeKpqHk0bpvsOI6X7QZNvBWhKVRro65V_kkQY_Wr89qd7QJ1q8wKhwOt-GB2sZXknm7gB2CaXiLmyR0KZS_Lj8wQfqBY/?imgmax=1600" alt="FOXM" width="700" height="495" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="FOXM01.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3PXU0d4NXXY/V18pCfqqaoI/AAAAAAAAVR0/0ZoTbfqMhFU/FOXM01.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="FOXM01" width="700" height="401" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Most of my free time though has been spent hoping to see some badger cubs above ground. They just cannot resist being above ground playing once they are about 12 - 14 weeks old. I have been watching a few Setts I am aware of, and eventually my patience paid off. I was pleased to get some decent daytime pictures of three cubs occasionally accompanied by mom playing in the late afternoon sun.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="BadgerB01.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaaeVU_2F2uNENNRfmWN4wp6ULeSCM3pb_lW4S8NuVs6omFqZpNQqVq1G_w4v0C6y_A8DsleTGSjpSrpT8ITD1zXkEi8OENqrHWQ-GJmh1r9x_O5TCzOMuxys5kwwpUCnOu-TaYKrJWb3/?imgmax=1600" alt="BadgerB01" width="700" height="448" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="BadgerB03.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jwkT5YM-UGg/V18pGUJ6fnI/AAAAAAAAVSE/HTtw5-rtfpI/BadgerB03.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="BadgerB03" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="BadgerB02.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8tdAOX0SRFg/V18pJHroEcI/AAAAAAAAVSM/b8vLRZ430Oo/BadgerB02.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="BadgerB02" width="700" height="408" border="0" /></p>
<p> To be in the close proximity of badgers as they go about their business is a real privilege and only makes my adoration of theses fascinating creatures stronger. I’m sure no-one is under any illusion about the black cloud hanging over our nations badger population in the form of the governments badger cull. This ill thought out policy has failed on every level, including failing dismally to meet their own already low standards of what constitutes a humane death for the shooting of a free roaming badger. With absolutely no solid scientific evidence to prove badgers spread Bovine TB to cattle, and cases of Bovine TB actually rising in some cull areas, the government still seem hell bent own pursuing this abhorrent scheme.</p>
<p>The Badger Trust is fighting hard to change the mind of this government and bring this failing policy to an end. Any support that can be given to the Badger Trust is money being put to good use to save our badgers. </p>
<p>I listened to Dominic Dyer, the CEO of the Badger Trust speak recently at a Badger Cull protest rally I attended in Leicester city centre. Of all the things he said, this one quote struck a chord with me, as it must have done with others as it appeared a lot on social media.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Trust.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--qRiL34ZAKs/V18pKLLqvxI/AAAAAAAAVSU/Vx-gOzRVk5s/Trust.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Trust" width="475" height="379" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Check out the Badger Trust’s website for yourself and make your own mind up. If you agree with what they stand for, try and make a donation.</p>
<p>Click the banner to check out the Badger Trust Website.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.badger.org.uk"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="badger.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cm4Wy9FVhZM/V18pLGOxoyI/AAAAAAAAVSc/vCMIEaOAKI0/badger.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Badger" width="212" height="211" border="0" /></a></p>
<p> </p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-62407030379173136852016-04-30T07:28:00.001+01:002016-04-30T07:28:14.930+01:00Mixing it up<p> It's been a week of messing about with different techniques to capture a few record shots of the local wildlife that I've been lucky enough to point a camera at.</p>
<p>It all started after work on Monday with a report of a Ring Ouzel! I rushed home from work for a change of clothes and to grab my binoculars and scope and was off. I located the Ring Ouzel, and the farmer upon whose land it was feeding gave me permission to cross his land to get a better view.</p>
<p>It remained distant and I didn't want to move it on by chasing it about so decided on using my scope and phone to capture a record shot.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="ring.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Vq4fL24n63o/VyRQTWcG4vI/AAAAAAAAS3s/x7XG9x18_-E/ring.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Ring" width="700" height="700" border="0" /></p>
<p>Phonescoping again proving its value as a tool to keep in your armory for capturing pictures of a distant subject.</p>
<p>After enjoying the Phonescoping it encouraged me to set up my old Nikon P300 point and shoot camera and "Digidapter" made by Paul Sayegh. I decided to have a go capturing some images with my dedicated Digiscoping kit. I have been taking my scope out with me more often to scan the fields and hedgerows and thought it would make a change to use the little camera. If you are taking your scope, it’s nice to have an easy method of capturing what you are viewing if required.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="scopeb.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdRoMHGvT0pgbW3DII451EXNssKCCFDrzB4fziMIEi9xKSyPaSzWIAphH1oHWJ4b6wXZv9whhiDb5eNfH8GsjTDqFyaZzI1mihMN3s-1h0CnHZg4ftpvqZpk2tZsJ71UqMUVw0hxxgXLe/?imgmax=1600" alt="Scopeb" width="500" height="500" border="0" /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> My Sunday morning wander about offered a few opportunities to put this set up through its paces. As with all my captures, I aim to get a record shot, but occasionally, if distances and conditions allow, I try for a "better" quality picture.</div>
<p>The Tree Sparrows and the Wheatear fall into the, just get a record shot category, the Corn Bunting is what I consider a better quality shot</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="wheat.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QBTWw6BcrsU/VyRQHf7zZjI/AAAAAAAAS3U/YxdKA-aiKF8/wheat.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Wheat" width="700" height="457" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="tree.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OtOzOnaefJE/VyRQJRF17yI/AAAAAAAAS3Y/syWTDhtvDdA/tree.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Tree" width="640" height="490" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="corn.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mESVSgIcY7H1-dIl2cq0Ldq_tvmbHvwGUUxv-IJiHYQ4scE5aDGtGDl1pv_lRuNMPEovRSQkdFh2vhBxhcwdlURb4-KBVv24IAFD_1iLhaERtydYaa-8iDRl2xqb6CxB-GYDoonITTAl/?imgmax=1600" alt="Corn" width="700" height="508" border="0" /></p>
<p>Also, one evening after work I took my Canon G3X bridge camera for a spin. Pete had told me he had seen a Fox hunting an area we sometimes check out and I decided to head that way. I couldn’t believe my luck when I also witnessed a well conditioned fox also hunting the very same area. It eventually realized it had an audience and disappeared. It was in too much cover to try for a picture but I found out what it was so interested in. The area has quite a healthy rat population and it obviously fancied one for supper.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Rat02.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qrzkgVDnRH4/VyRQbQem5pI/AAAAAAAAS38/lfOokYHmsAY/Rat02.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Rat02" width="700" height="463" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="rat2.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t0w6bt0Y42U/VyRQPCUQxOI/AAAAAAAAS3k/R_lEblEiUiA/rat2.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Rat2" width="700" height="413" border="0" /></p>
<p>A Pair of Grebe on the river also made for an interesting evening.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="grebe.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mEfeyBGme40/VyRQRBYACbI/AAAAAAAAS3o/c6tZVmedpas/grebe.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Grebe" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p>I also managed to capture a local Hare on…….. film! That is still the word that springs to my mind, but what is the current accepted terminology? Captured on, photosensitive diodes, sensor, CCD, digitally? Film still sounds better to me. </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Hare.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n66zy8T2lr5kUeoRPvbQ-20EGnNF60ik0S56U42ecwCzIod2H7iZ_15SaN0Q0y1wNtUmLzpwF48EfoU5u8FZA2GLJOqZX-TPOtrMEwDcvb1UZ_GftN1_G_JZIlC7ghCU9fnKyGAFIbDi/?imgmax=1600" alt="Hare" width="700" height="700" border="0" /></p>
<p>On top of that lot, I had a trail camera back in the area I picked the Otter up in last week, hoping it would again put in an appearance. No such luck though. However, Pete and I were again surprised at just how productive this clearing is when we checked the pictures to find another couple of surprises. </p>
<p>We found the usual suspects we've been keeping an eye on.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="badgerpair.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYMtB0n7b9SxiHReb2PxPsEV5S4QU9kj9ssl1WmkHEitYqJFhR5CTAYHdYj7L6uQ6g6eaNlPOnHm6tVFDEoz_9e-5bgtDGv-3n5f_IAXFSnJ-RnxP2f4iYi-aKtjB0iun29IUKKKjDx3U/?imgmax=1600" alt="Badgerpair" width="700" height="481" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="foxday.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_sRloSyB14kFUxVMt-dRUMVKxxHT52MOctD7aWqLrn8vAjyxwgq2mXxpWWBsINiB41rvMxdlgO6fYiTWVnncL4DuiOFLI7cDSxS5toXqqyLqMFlJW_RcVbUMavVL1R5IpDAzNc7c-JkE/?imgmax=1600" alt="Foxday" width="700" height="390" border="0" /></p>
<p>The surprise visitors, a pair of <span style="color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Muntjac deer! </span></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="deer.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QDRBQqttIn0/VyRQY2esDwI/AAAAAAAAS34/Buv_TO8vFWY/deer.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Deer" width="700" height="368" border="0" />Pete and I enjoyed going through all the pictures on the trail camera, all 1680 of them. We even found the ideal location to carry this task out. This could become a regular thing!</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pint.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tgEB68palLM/VyRQceqnbLI/AAAAAAAAS4A/9AEYx_fOX-w/Pint.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Pint" width="450" height="600" border="0" /></p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-43676706902167364572016-04-18T22:15:00.001+01:002016-04-18T22:16:45.167+01:00Another one for the collection<p>I have recently just discovered my 5th local Badger sett and checked out the surrounding area to establish routes I felt were well used and were suitable to place a trail camera. As this was a new area I decided to leave the camera for a week to see what kind of activity is occurring in the area. I am getting more and more interested in setting up camera traps, it really is interesting to collect the SD card and find what’s been happening on your patch under the cover of darkness.</p>
<p>I have recently purchased a new trail camera which I am very pleased with but tend to use on shorter overnight situations where I know what I am trying to capture and already know the best locations to set it up. As this was a new area and I was just leaving the camera for a week, I decided to set my old battered trail camera up, it’s held together with insulation tape, its picture quality isn’t great, but it still works.</p>
<p>I picked an interesting looking area, positioned the camera and hoped it would still be there a week later. The good news is, it was still there a week later. My concerns were how successful the whole exercise would have been after a week of quite heavy rain.</p>
<p>The first thing I noticed on placing the SD card into the card reader of my computer was that there were nearly 600 pictures. The stars of over 500 of these are shown below. The Jays and the Squirrels were easily the most photographed.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="jayS.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mc7muvg74Dk/VxVOI75uZUI/AAAAAAAASXA/v2Za8HOccVA/jayS.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="JayS" width="700" height="700" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="JackR.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xG4zRW7vxA0/VxVOLqmJQ8I/AAAAAAAASXE/8Si2AN7JQ6E/JackR.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="JackR" width="700" height="700" border="0" /></p>
<p>I had a few fox pictures and from what I can make out, two different foxes were passing through the area but they both managed to avoid getting a full framed capture.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMAG0233.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVh2vwordDOx1NjJs5PWW_7kCnshBRD26G_uBSRAunFCQteAF-wVw3wvF9Bl3ETgnivckBKZ1vm5HkVUEgViv-Am9p2AStCAabJDF9d9lx7JZTCKgpEWbmqpwUlr8pIgJfwgV3_8NC1tIz/?imgmax=1600" alt="IMAG0233" width="700" height="512" border="0" /></p>
<p>I was very pleased to see that the new sett I had found has indeed got some inhabitants. Even the torrential rain didn’t stop them visiting the area which surprised me as the surrounding fields must have been good for worming in these wet conditions, Perhaps they were out worming and this was just the route to and from their favoured feeding grounds. The initial results show that the sett has at least two inhabitants.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMAG0329.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsTq3CMWveXiemkI-9YWesyAc_PTRhJCmuVtTnUDjq9-R2wm1UwZ6bfzSFcm5LYoJ80IvNgJ1E38RqIgLNwtLARybjHfPN7V5iEOz73tGtwAPMp9ib7yXI__LrsqBgyWxZG51tnTC4THS/?imgmax=1600" alt="IMAG0329" width="700" height="549" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMAG0030.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFhxLftbZJpRH_f6k5HOy74yCo6b2vZyhHNHXzPkuVMhwOK9PJOzWJ8UVQdfPsb7PTaEuP3cavLjRxk15w8UXTzIyFL-Tx78WjKzPE8rDLDTvLWL9JCTw9Kl6e1dPUSegfnRGSo__pPMX/?imgmax=1600" alt="IMAG0030" width="700" height="452" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMAG0034.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EXEi6N1mVcw/VxVOQhLX5CI/AAAAAAAASXQ/mVGgJcpdzQM/IMAG0034.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="IMAG0034" width="700" height="454" border="0" /></p>
<p>Some very wet badgers.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMAG0051.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eGTF-5n2w34/VxVOSkC3DDI/AAAAAAAASXU/LTOVkFtiKYg/IMAG0051.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="IMAG0051" width="700" height="457" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMAG0058.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4IcxI2BAEek/VxVOUCdmx5I/AAAAAAAASXY/Uq5i70lywI4/IMAG0058.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="IMAG0058" width="700" height="465" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMAG0394.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDzHyYAF_CJOb5HxtfyJF26vyB9x6a36W6bKbyY7G5KL5ofJhzjCsU3JF8ALgt0u9oc0dFoqSOLBBs0eTEGHKfvfQdAS-GVgzui2uHVVJHihst49TYyeh9Lf81qprUh3HiicbV-K4t3Fq/?imgmax=1600" alt="IMAG0394" width="700" height="527" border="0" /></p>
<p>However, as I was sorting through the 600 pictures, I came across a bit of a surprise. The area where the trail camera was set does look like a bit of an animal highway, shared by various creatures on route to their destinations, but I wasn’t expecting this. This is the best picture and it isn’t great, but as soon as I saw it I thought Otter!</p>
<p>I took the pictures to Pete and we poured over them, using landmarks and branches in other photos with foxes or badgers stood by them to judge scale and size of the animal. We both agreed it was an Otter.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMAG0046.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl0jFvpOEqdSySO2jud5to-CPI_AMNcFQnXt0j1KrQKO79GQGvHxrBytILFc-rtZF8sYVNmlmLGhzorz312OuGH6D6YiTbbdG8hGABIecgRTQRZvaUtmpKjJjtYcvhUiZaNJgCwkiS0Ii/?imgmax=1600" alt="IMAG0046" width="700" height="506" border="0" /></p>
<p>I do like to get as much confirmation as possible when issues such as this arise, so I sent the picture to The UK Wild Otter Trust:</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="UKWOT.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--tCRsRCEKAQ/VxVOabzuy7I/AAAAAAAASXo/MOdLv8CJzy8/UKWOT.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="UKWOT" width="194" height="126" border="0" /></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I received a very prompt reply from Dave Webb</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Founder - UK Wild Otter Trust</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">IUCN - Otter Specialist Group Member</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">OWAG - Otter Welfare Advisory Group Board Member</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Who is of the opinion that<strong> "it certainly looks like an Otter."</strong></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Check out their very informative website - <a href="http://www.ukwildottertrust.co.uk">UK Wild Otter Trust</a></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </p>
<p>I am very pleased to see that Otters are making a comeback in the area and intend trying to get further evidence and hopefully, better pictures. As the saying goes, watch this space!</p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-29727040499725241212016-04-01T22:26:00.001+01:002016-04-04T07:03:20.897+01:00Around the locality <p><span style="font-size: large;">I have been hammering the local fields around my patch in the hope of an early Wheatear, but so far have drawn a blank. I was however pleased to see that last years breeding Tree Sparrows are back in residence. I had taken the spotting scope on this walk as I was also scanning hedgerow tops for Corn Bunting. </span></p>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">Plenty of Yellowhammers, which I'm always pleased to see, but the small Corn Bunting flock I observed on occasions through the winter has now dispersed. I expected to see some individuals calling from favored perches proclaiming their territory in the early sunshine. Maybe it's still a little too cold? I expect to see them soon. </span></div>
<div><img id="id_73f2_fb5_120c_9a37" style="width: 702px; height: auto;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tlg4AXAgBGk/Vv7r05BAFwI/AAAAAAAAP0o/WWuNAcBBeyI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">I put the scope to use and attached my camera to try and get some pictures of the Tree Sparrows without getting to close and spooking them. </span></div>
<div><img id="id_d638_b1d5_17e6_b01b" style="width: 614px; height: auto;" title="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQLnpXNyne_6ymQyMnkLcOc8dX6bwTXpqtyb2dFvR0K_fOqA4wfBdevRS4QeiIzOcFXtwxQUOoGlNvKj4Fh3INMjuBPb3VBgCPI0SgKEMGbdLfFHx7zz7cY-pqDIVpuGRWP1CVbL04Z6j/" alt="" /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Treeb.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--KRFOeqnr0g/Vv9i3wud4dI/AAAAAAAAP2E/EGUwDKVzRtg/Treeb.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Treeb" width="700" height="560" border="0" /></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">Later in the week while out enjoying some sunshine, even though temperatures struggled to rise I was lucky enough to get close enough to a feeding Muntjac deer. I held my breath and hoped the shutter sounds from my camera wouldn't spook it. It hung around and I managed a few shots I am pleased with. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div><img id="id_5376_fd3c_4221_ef2c" style="width: 702px; height: auto;" title="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqSmCAOe_95oDjJGQ8j2a9VI8aOf8tl6c_PzkJJRheVSITBGsr28D1dJetaa5QidanbeMb3mx6b7hPrPvaOTzjogYQDoq7zy4pDShzUQmdAqSiphXaSsgHooJs9EOvETuS_ZfUkE4Hrtw/" alt="" /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><img id="id_4400_eb85_cc96_afe5" style="width: 702px; height: auto;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iQZ78Ssx3z0/Vv7xSmZaXGI/AAAAAAAAP1M/wKAEOqMLNVI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" /></div>
<div> </div>
<div><img id="id_6ddc_58f_844b_f133" style="width: 702px; height: auto;" title="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNyiMGB_Fn9UqnI1tQUBqKiUuojmsrw7oIzOSI8WHtsruHdfGe34ZDp2KAonBQlcIPJ7FzCZxSnFNsK_0Oanu5reRR2GZSj6hDH2bsT-TTLyS0cTfYyF74MxT8PmbyhPgAEDTckIgHtNI/" alt="" /></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday mornings walk was cut short due to rain. Pete and I were checking an area we occasionally visit to see if Tree Sparrows are also breeding there. There are a few about, but not as many as in our other colony. I would like to think they may also breed here. Will have another look in better weather conditions. As a bonus, we saw our first local Hare of the year as it put some distance between us across the fields.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">At some ungodly hour in the early hours of Sunday morning, I went to see if any badgers were about. I arrived in the dark and quietly made my way towards one of their favored areas. As soon as I entered the first field I heard some chattering coming from directly in front of me and only about 80 yards out. I slowly raised my binoculars (it’s amazing just how much more you can see in the dark using them) and there, still chattering away were two badgers rolling around play fighting in the field. They took turns chasing each other, like a game of badger tig, one would catch the other, they would roll about loudly chattering and then one would take off at full flight with the other in pursuit. I watched this until they got bored or too exhausted to carry on and they wandered off. I headed to another area I thought they may visit on their travels and set up the camera. I then took up a comfortable viewpoint downwind and waited to see what unfolded.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">— The outcome was pretty poor. Nothing captured on camera and visibility down to a few feet in the darkness due to rain and low lying mist. I had another brief badger sighting, but it soon disappeared into the mist and gloom. I gave it up as a bad job and headed back home for a much needed nap.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-32865099810879244622016-03-31T20:33:00.001+01:002016-03-31T21:04:39.876+01:00A Few Pictures from the Canon G3X<p>On Tuesday a friend and I visited Leighton Moss RSPB. Soon after arrival we had a couple of very heavy downpours that looked like they could set in for the day. I took my Canon G3X along with the intention of putting it through its paces with some shots at full zoom. All these pictures are at least full optical zoom (x25) and some go to the far end of the “fine” digital zoom. (x50)</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="LM02.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-USnRjYhxlOw/Vv2CUiLp12I/AAAAAAAAPxg/EUIxAyh0uGQ/LM02.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="LM02" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="LM01.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgJ8O7inohaFtEmaBfgByhRuYuCdUB6WBHRbyAJ1_r9M1KQ-q6zBa6unl6KNsmcqxbydSffz28T8Z6Rb5-xG6Eg5skhpIlFGvmQtXM2t3Wqon2V0Nj1P5yJF0rHKrQw8-47InbYYkkUyh/?imgmax=1600" alt="LM01" width="700" height="450" border="0" /></p>
<p>Then fortune smiled and around lunch time the skies brightened and it remained dry for the rest of the day. It was a little quieter bird wise than in previous visits, but still a very enjoyable day.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3626.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-APMd1AXaEAE/Vv2Cgh8WRJI/AAAAAAAAPx4/KddhRjebcNI/IMG_3626.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 3626" width="700" height="418" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="LM06.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUW7i1aO_ZHBd_tpC_Fty8qP61sufr7_Bn819AaHF3vEQDvU_9n4cHwPM__k4I83Nl-lBex8XbRG5iawH_gQFMMC8KW_NPvNGMBg-eH920EfEzwlplOmpJnpQ05EuAma0xQZx6-4j3sPKT/?imgmax=1600" alt="LM06" width="700" height="533" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3592.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XsYn195-lJg/Vv2CjWDGQTI/AAAAAAAAPx8/sFz8ZB04HqA/IMG_3592.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 3592" width="700" height="428" border="0" /></p>
<p>At times, the Sun shone through and we enjoyed views of Marsh Harrier hunting over the reedbeds. </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="LM03.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jFDgAgqnzbA/Vv2CkzX-WsI/AAAAAAAAPyA/p6DFhr8pf14/LM03.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="LM03" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Since I last visited the Skytower has opened. It was still under construction last time I was there. It’s an impressive structure offering great view over the roadbeds.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px;"><strong>Click on picture below for link to Skytower information.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/leightonmoss/b/leightonmoss-blog/archive/2015/07/10/we-39-re-reaching-new-heights.aspx"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="RSPB Leighton Moss Skytower (David Mower) LOW RES.jpg-550x0.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nkdHK4WLnKk/Vv17a_TnAkI/AAAAAAAAPw4/E7oi81_0pF0/RSPB%252520Leighton%252520Moss%252520Skytower%252520%252528David%252520Mower%252529%252520LOW%252520RES.jpg-550x0.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="RSPB Leighton Moss Skytower David Mower LOW RES jpg 550x0" width="274" height="412" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>A picture from the top of the Skytower handheld, into the maximum “Fine” digital zoom range. (x50)</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="LM05.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXv_T12rP-rb_8WjVxAaPB0L2Kw1V0sG6uHSO4RevVxgIySwp0hsro3ZGYpv3hC7hyvCLGlRSmd4fpEKnJFUSREpLxtc4ro9OjqJAxew6Al3XtSovFlI9-t6JdjO2ai-oO4-sQtqrSjcQq/?imgmax=1600" alt="LM05" width="700" height="421" border="0" /></p>
<p>The day ended with a Spotted Redshank in front of Lillian’s Hide and we headed back to the Midlands. I always look forward to a Leighton Moss visit and no doubt will be back there in the not too distant future.</p>
<p> </p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-62736736533794227092016-03-25T21:15:00.001+00:002016-03-25T21:25:34.720+00:00From Dusk till Dawn<p>This isn’t an account of a 90’s vampire movie (it is a great movie though), but more an account of how my time outdoors has been spent. Late night wanderings after work when time permits and some very early mornings when I can manage them.</p>
<p>As I fininished work for the Easter break I decided to put the time to good use. Good Friday morning and I was out in the fields at around 4.30am. I decided to look in on one of the badger setts and stay there until the light levels increased slightly. Then I had a few spots I wanted to check for foxes and Hares. I have yet to see my first local Hare of 2016.</p>
<p>I arrived in the badger area before 5.00am and hung around until around 5.30am. No sign of the badgers. I have a trail camera set not far away and collected the SD card as I passed it. It showed there had been plenty of activity from both foxes and badgers during the night/early hours, but nothing since 4.00am.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Badger.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AfGcMmrKB3Y/VvWqOsl-ikI/AAAAAAAAO-A/spkQI7oAJeA/Badger.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Badger" width="700" height="420" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Fox.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hssETKYBgYk/VvWqQ44KfYI/AAAAAAAAO-E/T4a4wLXTZ54/Fox.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Fox" width="691" height="431" border="0" /></p>
<p>I left the area as light values began to increase. I headed back to the car and moved onto a new area in hope of seeing a local Hare. Last year, locally was one of the best for Hares I can remember. This year I’m still waiting to see one. I parked and set off to look over areas that had provided good sightings last year. The full moon was still visible, but dawn was not far away.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3264.JPG" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3R0ZKVrGuJxLMK0LQ9BvtuKJs6VGYFjq_OzuAGK0RFtryOFlolSVAVFKffl2BsVmkRXbnJGV7BRPzXKHSj0hxj6Qzkb5-9BgTJZP2702sGJ4_mBwWGdm9Vot1AX1hCaspGiDLZ0oPZHqA/?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 3264" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_2544.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-67zjqFAK6Fg/VvWqTEN9ULI/AAAAAAAAO-M/HTV_rbEepco/IMG_2544.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 2544" width="450" height="600" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I sighted a fox and followed it for a couple of fields. As light values improved I attempted a couple of record shots. I struggled for a decent shutter speed in the low light.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="foxdawn.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-621UTO8H-Mo/VvWqUx0ZL6I/AAAAAAAAO-Q/altWpVeQovw/foxdawn.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="Foxdawn" width="600" height="600" border="0" /></p>
<p>I may not of seen any badgers this morning, but three foxes later, I wasn’t disappointed with the mornings mooch. All foxes seen were dog foxes. I expect they are hunting for the family, with the vixens denning with the young cubs. I managed to follow one of the foxes carrying what looked like a rabbits hind quarters to an area that l believe its vixen is denned in. I lost sight of it quickly once it entered this area. I didn’t want to disturb them, so moved on. Still no Hares though!</p>
<p>Once the Sun properly appeared, it turned out to be a classic bright spring morning. I heard some geese calling in flight behind me and turned to identify the strange whistling that I could also hear. Two Canada geese passed by calling as expected, a white goose accompanied them making a higher pitched whistling call as it flew. I soon lost sight of them.</p>
<p>There were quite a few Yellowhammers sitting on hedge tops calling and I tried to get a few pictures.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Yellowhammer.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KnMiKy9QU15zbKmewJmSBksHAmuiTsiybI8dOhL7sMVrlFPmZllLbSHn6pZN9YRkL29ZEEHJ3k6GpddP0lBOQvfqREHmXVfS_nI7RDRiENk_BKWxVKOG_2uPWaXWj7LIqQUjUXNIKMzu/?imgmax=1600" alt="Yellowhammer" width="640" height="467" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3242.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5aR7Uta1BQ4/VvWqYQZrMUI/AAAAAAAAO-Y/wfSaUS3RaN4/IMG_3242.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 3242" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p>I decided to head back towards the car as I was feeling the need to put my feet up with a hot coffee, on route I encountered the geese I had seen in flight earlier, the white goose being very easy to spot grazing in the field.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3401.JPG" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVfMqlpjfeVcTLkGxXBU3VqoCANig9MtOOIREbDOPd09CeIFYI83rIyMWLRK51f9Db269xBZd5WofpvE6GjWGAUOLWUAQIIyDT8MskjPiToN0_k1_y3lL6LBXfzGo1gF1qrEezutTS2V-/?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 3401" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3407.JPG" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cOubogLsYM_8UclxiT9Ggth6kaGmEF-hJia2YkpdZQEggSznvoc8bFGtflwpX-uy67T-Dz6GRlyjv9VOgpQQ0VPWSzqecexVpb6k7cy4vsGqg6sGsKW0XMTkV8_T5kOIg2eNuKBuY05r/?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 3407" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Finally, a Raven displaying over some distant tree tops made me think it was indeed, a very Good Friday!</p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-10959326764209215132016-03-19T15:36:00.001+00:002016-03-19T15:40:53.371+00:00A Mixed Bag<p>Since I last updated this page I have been spending a lot of time out and about in the hours of darkness. After work walks and very early mornings, before there is sufficient light to take photographs. I have been watching badgers, foxes and looking for owls.</p>
<p>I have seen all of the above with four different Barn Owls sighted, two Tawny Owls seen and plenty of calling Tawny Owls heard.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMAG0002.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lWXFfupYk88/Vu1x378WVvI/AAAAAAAAOzw/7pgF94u8Chc/IMAG0002.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="IMAG0002" width="700" height="494" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have been walking stretches of our local rivers looking for signs of Otters, but nothing to report on that front. The rain and subsequent flooding experienced at the beginning of March soon put a stop to that and left large areas of the surrounding fields and countryside under water as the rivers burst their banks.</p>
<p>Just before the floods hit I decide to try my hand at catching a Chub from a particularly good looking stretch of the river Anker that Pete and I had walked. It looked an ideal Chub habitat and I haven’t had the urge to try for any species of fish for a long time. I spent a couple of hours on a cold but bright Sunday afternoon and hooked and landed a Chub. It’s easy to overlook the wildlife below the surface of our waterways while out appreciating the more obvious plants and creatures.</p>
<p>While plotting the downfall of this “Chevin” and waiting patiently for it to happen, I enjoyed the aforementioned more obvious critters as three Kingfishers flashed up and downstream, a Little Grebe fished opposite me and my first Grey Wagtail of the year showed off it’s colorful plumage as it bobbed up and down on the far bank rocks.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1922.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1g_cUOXfeiQ/Vu1x6vYaefI/AAAAAAAAOz0/ZxTXuuY-6Zs/IMG_1922.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 1922" width="700" height="525" border="0" /></p>
<p>This morning, Pete and I went on our usual Saturday morning walkabout, and the highlights were a small flock of Siskin feeding well in some Alder trees and this Little Egret fishing along the bank of the river Tame.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3050.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u3Hy7E0FvDY/Vu1x8u557EI/AAAAAAAAOz4/fjnNqzzQiZI/IMG_3050.jpg?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 3050" width="700" height="504" border="0" /></p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-75246896086867440762016-01-31T18:02:00.001+00:002016-01-31T18:06:49.626+00:00The Missing Season<p>It almost seems that we have jumped straight from Autumn into Spring. Apart from a couple of frosty starts and the lightest dusting of snow that soon vanished as temperatures quickly reached around 14ºC, it has predominantly been wet and mild.</p>
<p>Many plants and animals have been fooled into acting like it’s spring in these mild conditions, but there is still time for a proper cold snap to put this right and reset the calendar so to speak.</p>
<p>The fields are again full of ewes heavy in lamb, and we will soon be hearing their plaintive bleats, another event that signifies the onset of spring in my mind. This mild weather has done wonders for the grass, so the lactating ewes with have plenty of nutritional grazing. The other side of that coin is, I’m not sure my old lawnmower will manage the first cut of the year in the back garden. I wonder if I could borrow a sheep?</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1930.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g1koq5Jxnrc/Vq5MBFizCxI/AAAAAAAAOfo/3iZg5cusWe4/IMG_1930.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 1930" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p>This weekend finds me full of cold and suffering like only a man can. I came home from work on Friday after valiantly struggling through the day and slumped on the settee feeling pretty sorry for myself. At around 8pm, I still hadn’t moved when I receive a phone call from my daughter to inform me of a road causality Badger she had spotted that looked like it was still moving. She was concerned but unable to stop on the busy road. That was enough to drag me off the settee and I followed her directions to the badger.</p>
<p>The road was unlit, fast, and the badger was on a blind bend. I drove past it and turned the car around. I managed to pull up close to it with my hazards on, but felt very exposed on the blind bend. I’m glad my daughter had more sense than to put herself in the position I was now in! I quickly checked the badger, it had not survived the collision, I then got myself out of the situation. I really didn’t fancy meeting a similar fate.</p>
<p><strong> Unfortunately, this is the only time most people get to see a Badger.</strong></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1802.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6Tj1qMncvCs/Vq5L_eEAlbI/AAAAAAAAOfg/LQnPR0yb3cw/IMG_1802.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 1802" width="450" height="600" border="0" /></p>
<p>I had my trail camera and a few peanuts in the boot of the car, the cool evening rain and air had eased my headache and my breathing, so I decided to stay out a little longer. With badgers on my mind, I headed to my favorite little sett. I have mentioned this sett before, it is the one that was badly damaged last year. I didn’t see any badgers for a couple of months, but eventually, there were signs that at least one badger had returned.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Activity.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JosQKgROqLo/Vq5MC5LfVoI/AAAAAAAAOfw/GPKRAJ3AYJ8/Activity.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Activity" width="400" height="400" border="0" /></p>
<p>It was raining heavily by the time i reached the sett, I placed the camera in a suitable spot, scattered a few peanuts about, then headed for home. I have only seen one badger since the sett was damaged. There were three in this small sett. I’m hoping the trail camera will reveal that there is more than just a solitary badger resident.</p>
<p>I had a terrible night, sleep just eluded me. Unable to breath, sneezing, coughing, I gave it up as a bad job and got up for a coffee about 4.00am. I read for a while and then at around 5.30am, headed off to check the camera out and see what activity there had been. I arrived at around 6.10am, I didn't encounter anything of mention on the walk down in the dark. I quickly flicked on my head torch and was disappointed to see the peanuts were still where I had spread them. I took the memory card out of the camera and again headed for home.</p>
<p>I was suprised to find on the memory card a badger picture!</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMAG0009.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rU4cYcC0wpI/Vq5MIbRz_qI/AAAAAAAAOgQ/JZAQ7F_L50s/IMAG0009.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMAG0009" width="700" height="525" border="0" /></p>
<p>If you look at the time recorded on the photo, it’s 6.02am. Just one badger and it probably encountered the peanuts on its return journey to the sett after a nights forging. I arrived here about 8 mins after this picture was captured. No doubt it heard me coughing and spluttering across the fields well before I got anywhere near and vacated the area. </p>
<p>I do hope this badger isn’t the only inhabitant of this sett, I will keep an eye on things over the next few months.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Saturday morning and Pete and I visited Middleton RSPB for a wander about; we haven’t been for a while and it made a refreshing change. We had hoped that the Drake Smew reported on Friday was still about, but we didn’t locate it; we did however have our first Redpoll, Oystercatcher and Goldeneye of the year. As always, a great place to visit.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1964.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7sx0upqkx2M/Vq5MFgDhJkI/AAAAAAAAOgA/APvqMTzaJ5Q/IMG_1964.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 1964" width="700" height="460" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Untitled.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6O3v-Gxt6K0/Vq5MHLC-ZrI/AAAAAAAAOgI/LwGMGbiz76o/Untitled.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Untitled" width="600" height="600" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-84291193973774457852016-01-17T10:45:00.001+00:002016-01-18T22:24:59.317+00:00At last, some winter weather<p>I’m not a big fan of snow, but it makes a change from the incessant warm, wet weather we have been experiencing. Only a dusting in the night, but I must admit before it thaws and turns into a muddy, slushy mess, it looks quite scenic.</p>
<p>Little Egret and a male Sparrowhawk were the highlights of this mornings walk.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snow01.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WBHuF8_gasU/Vptwe3fDFHI/AAAAAAAAOU4/StedqiMwdyA/Snow01.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Snow01" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="heron01.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2wcKZgzrW3U-0hWzylYaulnVqgaSCrvr-svq9ZpND_KNXECDdPHq0cl9xFrE1540DK0WU-glHUznHgd0mONEx_PSZqcxRMIncEJWcA2VRhDmqSsZtVhsLATneAnuTbOiIgrYUQvdCdJB/?imgmax=800" alt="Heron01" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Heron02.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WMC6WXjOBUs/VptwmRXeUsI/AAAAAAAAOVI/NZIh-I81dOU/Heron02.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Heron02" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Heron03.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P9PnNX-d-Dk/VptwrkCJEYI/AAAAAAAAOVQ/HKsegHZpjgQ/Heron03.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Heron03" width="700" height="312" border="0" /></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snow03.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3ynPMLXVJFr_98JhbCk_ScSUKdEWQalH-kE19ljxlWNgVPn-CBQpqYr0RbbNI5K9xcTfQoCP9n2TcTC4JkiyKuOxvq6Zr92WH1Nbm6NGWJoBzyT5pzi6rIzngYSFiWUbzHGE3Vtn8klI/?imgmax=800" alt="Snow03" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-54761556844328759412016-01-13T16:51:00.001+00:002016-01-13T17:12:19.799+00:00Here we go again<p style="text-align: left;">Another year starts and I am looking forward to seeing if I can photograph some Badgers from local Setts I have been watching. They have proved to be very elusive of late and although I have seen signs of their activity, I have not yet clapped eyes on a badger about its business in 2016. Mind you, we are only 10 days into the new year as I write this, but I have already been badger watching a couple of times with no success.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Yesterday’s birding threw up a few treats. Managing Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge and plenty of Skylarks, so I was pleased with that.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">My thoughts though are with badgers at the moment, so later that day I went to check out another badger sett I keep an eye on. Activity here is really ramping up and although it isn’t as local to me as the sett I frequently visit, I feel it may house a bigger colony of <em>Meles meles</em> and allow for more successful observation. </p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0133.JPG" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVePKdpyA0C9ORdtTHG9ODg3VYG3-MgBbs5RwqIuYQk7-uS1FSkJmoDRCj8zNbZqT4oBUHsLUsjECvn1ithQtq_O7sf9XY4GfM-NeVgVE0stvX42n_cfdGNIatrgkgSxZf7AiTVinoJa3m/?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 0133" width="700" height="700" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I intend spending more of my free time watching and attempting to photograph badgers this year, and my free time in January will be spent just watching and attempting to learn the best times to arrive to maximise my chances of a successful encounter. If I can try to ascertain the routines of the badgers in these setts I could save myself a lot of siting around and cut down on waiting time. I may try to use a trail camera to record the comings and goings of these setts where possible and see if there is noticeable pattern in the times these badgers emerge to begin an evenings foraging and the times they return.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It isn’t unfortunately as easy as just placing a trail camera on site and collecting it again a week or so later; these setts are not in remote areas and an unconcealed trail camera will soon disappear.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I only own one trail camera at the moment, but I think i may add another one or two to my collection of equipment this year. It will all depend on finding suitable sites to install and leave them to do their thing while being relatively confident that someone won’t find and pocket it a couple of days later.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I ended up digging out the trail camera and setting it up at this location. It was difficult to conceal and i spent a bit of time camouflaging it so it didn’t easily stand out. I have seen the odd badger at this location when our paths have unexpectedly crossed, but it is the first time I have set a trail camera here. It’s been a while since I used the trail camera and rookie mistake, i forget to check how I had it set to capture pictures. Unfortunately, I had it set to leave 10 mins between each activation; great for leaving somewhere for month, but not ideal for a few days when you would like to capture a lot of activity.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Forty eight hours later, most of it being accompanied by torrential rain, I decided to check on the camera. Rainy, misty nights aren’t great for any type of photography. It was after work, dark and still raining. It was difficult to get to the sett as I needed to walk up quite a steep hill. The mud was very slippy due to the ground being ripped up by fools on scrambling bikes prior to the rain. It really was a case of two steps forward and slide back one. On reaching the area, I noticed the rain had caused some subsidence and someone had cordoned the area off. If the area was going to be getting some attention, I decided I would remove the camera.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It was once at home when checking the SD card I realized I had not had the camera set on the best settings, nevertheless, I had captured a few shots of a couple of the sett’s residents.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="BadgersH.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lqtxuXw7YLA/VpaAi8LHxQI/AAAAAAAAOUE/HQ9_qp2BkSg/BadgersH.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="BadgersH" width="700" height="700" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">So, my badger picture account for 2016 is open with pictures of some badgers I have never camera trapped before. I will resume my interest in this area as the weather improves.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I am more interested in my very local sett and its residents (or maybe resident) at the moment. Activity suggest there is more than a solitary badger in this sett, but my last sightings of 2015 after the sett was damaged was of the same solitary boar. Hopefully, this group will reassemble? I will keep my eye on it.</p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-25912707933169715582015-12-22T07:44:00.001+00:002015-12-22T08:21:53.227+00:00The Hinksford Hoopoe<p> <span style="font-size: 19px;">It has long been an ambition of mine to see a UK Hoopoe. Even before my birding took on a more serious note there were three birds I really wanted to see; Hoopoe, Dartford Warbler and a Stone Curlew. I have now achieved that long standing target, although I never expected the Hoopoe to be a December tick!</span></p>
<p style="font-size: 19px;">This is the third Hoopoe I have intentionally tried to “twitch,” and the third time I have set out to see this particular Hoopoe. The first visit was three weeks ago in gale force winds. I was there at first light and hung on as long as I could, a duration of about five hours. It showed, about twenty minutes after my departure.</p>
<p style="font-size: 19px;">Visit two was last weekend, it was reported at 1.00pm and I arrived at about 2.30pm. I hoped it would show quickly as only around 90 minutes of light remained on what was already a very dull and rainy afternoon. One other birder was there and we were treated to an in flight glimpse as it passed over our heads. We were unable to relocate it. I was less than satisfied with my first Hoopoe sighting and had hoped for a picture, so Monday, the first day of my Xmas holiday; I was again in a reclaimed quarry in Wall Heath, hoping this Black Country loving Hoopoe would put in an appearance.</p>
<p style="font-size: 19px;">It did! and I was able to get a few record record shots too.</p>
<p style="font-size: 19px;">As usual, I had taken my camera and my spotting scope. My intention was to use the camera if the bird was particularly mobile, but if it allowed I could attach my phone to my scope and phonescope a few record shots. I don’t know why; after all this time phonescoping, that the quality of the pictures still surprises me.</p>
<p style="font-size: 19px;">It was early morning, overcast and very very dull. The camera even with its 1’ sensor required a high ISO to achieve anything like usable shutter speeds, especially at full zoom. I also had to go into the digital zoom range because of the distance involved to the subject; this also impacts on shutter speed and picture quality.</p>
<p style="font-size: 19px;">Now obviously the scope has a much greater optical reach than the camera and with the iPhone attached it did an admirable job. I am not sure how the phone operates as well as it does with low ISO in poor light, but on this occasion it definitely out performed the camera.</p>
<p style="font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">Results from the iPhone and Novagrade adapter </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Hoopoe phone 02.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_TAK4qh1pNs/VnkC9pGyFCI/AAAAAAAAOK4/NA6kUIOf_I0/Hoopoe%252520phone%25252002.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Hoopoe phone 02" width="700" height="520" border="0" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Hoopoe phone 01.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPn2r3n1vUAnWrYrI7-NVvpO4FyVDbM5OwEk9ohpr_1IOrJPfTcwkCEGFp-qAPZWFIaKRUMJM3WNGgnZe9eNpuObwXFJ65TovkQzRsvu0MnDnIXchLmKRDWWg6qsmvvbwx2B-0zWTUSh9/?imgmax=800" alt="Hoopoe phone 01" width="700" height="482" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">Results from Camera</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="CanonHoopoe01.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TWK69PGLAtI/VnkDEi4bwkI/AAAAAAAAOLI/vvwZzbgnv4s/CanonHoopoe01.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="CanonHoopoe01" width="700" height="490" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="CanonHoopoe02.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ual34jy8Rqw/VnkDMyMcupI/AAAAAAAAOLQ/oP7WK-e1Jdk/CanonHoopoe02.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="CanonHoopoe02" width="700" height="428" border="0" /></p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-20811345032625305442015-11-24T19:25:00.001+00:002015-11-24T19:37:42.690+00:00Red Footed Falcon Shot. <p> It was sad news indeed today when I read that the rare and <strong>protected</strong> Red Footed Falcon that I and many other wildlife enthusiasts had visited and enjoyed was found dead in Cambridgeshire. It had been shot!</p><p>I paid this magnificent bird a visit when it was in Stoke and spent an enjoyable few hours watching and photographing it. Details of that memorable day in July are <a href="http://moochersmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/red-footed-falcon-staffordshire.html" target="_blank" title="">here</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aPQz0TI15Yw/VlS5W8AVBZI/AAAAAAAAM9A/xW-OjW1WHa0/s2048/Photo%25252020151124192330127.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aPQz0TI15Yw/VlS5W8AVBZI/AAAAAAAAM9A/xW-OjW1WHa0/s500/Photo%25252020151124192330127.jpg" id="blogsy-1448393827330.8171" class="alignnone" alt="" width="500" height="386"></a></div><p> The Young male falcon was found dead near Whittlesey,Cambridgeshire. It had been shot with a shotgun. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QOIcf-H8Kig/VlS5YHPdHxI/AAAAAAAAM9I/ae3M1cqqpjU/s680/Photo%25252020151124192330151.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QOIcf-H8Kig/VlS5YHPdHxI/AAAAAAAAM9I/ae3M1cqqpjU/s500/Photo%25252020151124192330151.jpg" id="blogsy-1448393827306.4204" class="alignnone" alt="" width="500" height="282"></a></div><p> </p><p>The RSPB is offering a £1,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the person who shot the bird, while Suffolk Police said it was still an active investigation.</p><p> It is sickening that someone could shoot such a rare and beautiful bird. </p><p>This type of wildlife crime is not an isolated incident and more people need to be aware of the type of wildlife crime being committed, what to look out for, and how and where to report it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a9MR_pxU6QQ/VlS5ZS13EDI/AAAAAAAAM9Q/-DsVJ32X1zg/s1000/Photo%25252020151124192330186.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a9MR_pxU6QQ/VlS5ZS13EDI/AAAAAAAAM9Q/-DsVJ32X1zg/s500/Photo%25252020151124192330186.jpg" id="blogsy-1448393827321.55" class="alignnone" alt="" width="500" height="220"></a><a href="http://birdersagainst.org" target="_blank" title="BAWC"></a></div><p> <a href="http://birdersagainst.org" target="_blank" title="">Click on here to visit their website.</a></p><p>Birders Against Wildlife Crime (BAWC) is an independent, volunteer-led, campaign group set up in 2014 by a group of experienced birders and conservationists who just like you are sick of the number of crimes being committed against wildlife. </p><p>Their aim is to fight back, by </p><p>1) making the processes of Recognising, Recording, and Reporting wildlife crime as easy as possible (an initiative they term ‘the Three Rs’), </p><p>2) putting ‘eyes in the field’ </p><p>3) highlighting how much wildlife crime takes place and what ‘the public’ really think about it.</p><p>Visit their website and if you can, donate to their worthy campaign to bring the perpetrators of such sickening wildlife crime to justice.</p><p> I will be making my donation to BAWC and I urge anyone who finds these crimes against wildlife as abhorrent as I do to try and do the same. </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-82300530731908835462015-11-21T22:57:00.001+00:002015-11-21T23:02:08.438+00:00Badger Reclamation <p>A couple of months ago one of the Badger setts I keep an eye on experienced some serious disturbance. I don’t at this point believe it was an intentional act, more collateral damage from the carrying out of routine tasks on the land. The sett in question had been collapsed and practically filled in by being ploughed over while the field itself was being cultivated ready for its winter crop.</p><p>This is a small sett containing only three badgers, a large boar and two sows. For a couple of weeks after the damage to the sett, no badger sightings or activity was recorded. The well used latrines I am aware of remained unused, grass started to grow over once well used trails, and the sett main entrance remained blocked with soil. I feared the worst.</p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3cJKPbbezBs/VlD2svQjmxI/AAAAAAAAM8M/j4j40zcphDg/IMG_6044.jpg?imgmax=800" id="blogsy-1448146862574.7285" class="" alt="IMG 6044" width="500" height="333"></p><p> </p><p>Then, one morning about three to four weeks after the damage, I noticed some fresh digging that had occurred at the damaged sett during my early morning walk. This gave me some hope that maybe this small colony of badgers had survived. The fresh workings had not reopened the old main entrance, but were tucked away under the hedgerow, it looked like the sett was being opened up again.</p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T-bH-nOUeBk/VlD2oGSPMqI/AAAAAAAAM78/2hXoaKe1ArI/IMG_0191.jpg?imgmax=800" id="blogsy-1448146862581.635" class="" alt="IMG 0191" width="450" height="600"></p><p>We walked the fields around the sett early mornings, evenings, and well into darkness hoping to see the badgers in the places I used to watch them. No badgers were seen!</p><p>Then a discovery, well away from the original sett in some sandy loose soil we found a blind sett. I felt this was probably temporary accommodation for a returning badger while the old sett was reworked and reopened.</p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pw_T6QNJh6o/VlD2vNPSZ3I/AAAAAAAAM8U/o8NTz76njig/IMG_0203.jpg?imgmax=800" id="blogsy-1448146862604.2622" class="" alt="IMG 0203" width="450" height="600"></p><p> A week later and I found another blind sett, dug in firmer soil, again, a fair way from the original sett.</p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qcIlE7HH8tE/VlD2xYwiKJI/AAAAAAAAM8c/D-WPK_iAno4/IMG_0794.jpg?imgmax=800" id="blogsy-1448146862603.4788" class="" alt="IMG 0794" width="450" height="600"></p><p>A few more weeks slipped by and one morning I noticed that the new main entrance to the original sett had bedding material airing outside.</p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m0TUrdQlUdI/VlD2zjwkyUI/AAAAAAAAM8k/Z_3k447eDPA/IMG_1161.jpg?imgmax=800" id="blogsy-1448146862569.5867" class="" alt="IMG 1161" width="450" height="600"></p><p>There were also footprints in some of the other tunnels.</p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qKAwIf4WCoQ/VlD21cbVwzI/AAAAAAAAM8s/H29nfmpZ190/IMG_0797.jpg?imgmax=800" id="blogsy-1448146862599.02" class="" alt="IMG 0797" width="450" height="600"></p><p>So the good news is, there is still a fighting chance this sett will carry on housing badgers, but I still have concerns.</p><p>I have now had visual contact on several occasions over the last three weeks of the inhabitants of this sett, or to be more specific, inhabitant.</p><p>I have only seen the old boar and there have been no sightings of the two females. I am hoping that they are about. Maybe they are using one of the blind setts while the old sett is being repaired. I hope so! I will be keeping my eye on this sett, as I always do and hope to report that the family group have again taken up residence in the original sett.</p><p>Visual contact now gets more difficult as we are well into November. The temperatures have dropped and winter in beginning to make its presence felt. The badgers will spend more time below ground and their activities will become less predictable. They don’t hibernate, but in extreme conditions when food is scarce they will just conserve energy and stay curled up in the sett. If there are any female badgers still resident in this sett, they will give birth in Jan/Feb. I hope this is the case.</p><p>By March the boar will also become more active and will patrol his territory looking for females. This boar has show he is a resilient old fellow, and if the original females are no more, I hope he finds more on his spring travels and hopefully, they repopulate this little sett.</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-8788184189655160922015-10-17T20:43:00.001+01:002015-10-29T06:13:59.559+00:00Another interesting weekend<p><span style="font-size: large;">As is usually the way, that weekend feeling began to sweep over me as soon as I left work on Friday. I am trying to photograph some badgers with normal photographic equipment rather that a trail camera. It is proving to be a bit of a challenge, but I am enjoying trying to get some results. As I drove home, my thoughts turned to which of the Setts we are aware of would give me the best chance of getting some better quality pictures. </span></p>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">By 7pm I had made my decision and set off armed with my camera and a plan. I arrived at the location at about 7.45pm and straight away had mixed feelings about the success of this evenings plans. Although it was now dark, it was still light enough to make out a large badger that was already going about its business about 90 yards out in a field of stubble. I enjoyed watching it amble about, but I knew that if it spooked, it would be unlightly to return anytime soon to have its picture taken. I attempted to set up my camera as quietly at possible, but this badger knew something was amiss and dashed back towards the sett. It stopped short of the sett and turned to face in my direction. It was very unlightly it could see me, their eyesight is pretty poor, but maybe it could smell me, and it had definitely heard me. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">It didn't go to ground, but sloped off with no sense of urgency in a direction that put distance between us until it vanished into the shadows. As it hadn't rushed to ground in panic, I hoped it may return, or maybe, hopefully, some of its sett mates, but I kind of knew an appearance this side of midnight was going to be unlightly. It never works out well when the badgers are out and about before you arrive. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">At around 8.30pm a movement caught my eye and I turned to see a Barn Owl hunting along the field edge. I was sat well back under a large Oak tree with my back to the trunk still hoping for the return of the badger. The Owl flew out into the stubble field and even in the dark my binoculars gathered enough light to allow me to watch it hunt. It dropped into the stubble and then rose up a foot of so, dropping back down hard onto the stubble. It did this twice more then stayed on the ground, its wings slightly spread. After a few seconds it flapped, took flight and rose up from the ground. It moved quickly and I soon lost it in the darkness. Imagine my surprise when it suddenly reappeared right in front of me! If silently flew under the canopy of the tree I was sitting under and perched on a branch about 6ft above my head. It stayed for a few minutes, but I feel it sensed something wasn't quite right. It took flight again and as it silhouetted against the skyline, I could see the rodent it held in its left talons. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">At around 10.30pm the Barn Owl returned and perched on a fence post about 70 yards from where I sat. I kept checking with the binoculars as I scanned the area for the hoped for approaching badgers and it stayed on this perch for at least 30 mins. At just gone 11pm while checking for badgers I noticed it had dissapered. </span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">As expected, no further </span><span style="font-size: large;">badger activity was observed and at around midnight I quietly packed up and headed for home. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">I already had plans for Saturday morning. Pete had found a spot on one of our local patches that shows signs of feeding activity each morning. It isn't close to any sett we are aware of, but it looks like badgers are foraging in the area. We had set a trail camera up last weekend and it had been in situ for a week. We were looking forward to seeing what if anything it had captured</span></div>
<div><strong style="text-align: center;"><br></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong style="text-align: center;"> <font size="4">Trail Camera and the peanut burying trowel.</font></strong><span style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"> </font></span></div>
<div><img title="IMG_0253.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qwl1LBwRIOE/ViK30EQI9mI/AAAAAAAAJJ4/zxSd06tZa-E/IMG_0253.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 0253" width="700" height="700" border="0" id="id_6225_2a9c_7bee_48cf" style="width: 700px; height: auto;"></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">Well, the trail camera had taken 160 pictures. Most of them were mice and squirrels! However, a Fox put in an appearance one night, and a solitary badger visited the area every evening. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<p><img id="id_ccda_c19e_4e98_d1e6" style="width: 692px; height: auto;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ekbqnZREp2g/ViKoM_-kDiI/AAAAAAAAJHY/7WzKU2LQMqo/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt=""></p>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<p><img id="id_c008_db34_a4e9_86c0" style="width: 692px; height: auto;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fXkMpWb26BE/ViKoZQII7UI/AAAAAAAAJHg/xNk2Wg_BoRk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt=""></p>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<p><img id="id_5166_5cb1_cb74_620a" style="width: 692px; height: auto;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yZsoqnXvIEI/ViKok6tL6gI/AAAAAAAAJHo/-XDFJ1oqN0E/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt=""></p>
<div> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">We were surprised to have captured a pair of Muntjac one evening too. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div><img id="id_366_9365_36d2_6273" style="width: 692px; height: auto;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bvCGLxjtKzY/ViKoygz6CiI/AAAAAAAAJHw/IvTvjSBkb58/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt=""><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><img id="id_b428_229e_265a_4df4" style="width: 692px; height: auto;" title="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AteetXUl5wQ/ViKo9bnsuXI/AAAAAAAAJH4/-bjX8QRvFIU/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt=""></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: large;">So now it's back to trying to photograph a badger with my actual camera rather than my trail camera. Succeed or fail, I will no doubt enjoy trying. </span></div>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782302176942117461.post-26840219334668583032015-10-11T19:06:00.001+01:002015-10-11T20:52:16.108+01:00Spoonbills at Middleton<p>A tweet came through late Saturday afternoon reporting three Spoonbills at RSPB Middleton. Further information stated they were still there at last light. So, early Sunday morning Jon and I arrived at Middleton and with a few other early birders, were lucky enough to find the Spoonbills still resident.</p>
<p>We all attempted to get record shots on this dull start to the day with the early morning sun refusing to put in an appearance. My best record shots came from phonescoping the birds.</p>
<p><img title="IMG_6989.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jzqeF0D51Qo/Vhqkdtaj-WI/AAAAAAAAJEc/iQmIRYkvyFE/IMG_6989.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6989" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p>A few of my record shots.</p>
<p><img title="Spoon01.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GSwZsaJtBso/VhqkmDReCrI/AAAAAAAAJEk/_kxpXGW9ctI/Spoon01.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Spoon01" width="700" height="524" border="0" /></p>
<p><img title="IMG_0145.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BLZtPNKMz5xx0plDFqq74zH6lBJ4sGsiWJPyzi1JSfLCzdJZA4YjuB2L273S0YJjsAs2iYucJJjF3z-WWg5Ht0wn4L5u_SyL9K5wKzSR5dyQarf7fdO2HmCi71Il0Bd6unmJ7WScH8Sg/?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 0145" width="700" height="525" border="0" /></p>
<p><img title="Spoon03.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIbSTVcIfRA4x5uGRF4Yyl86Yoz2pT7mCjI6wbGhaOa06HPFYfs5k472l7Y6cnpPUw2DhCjmjsTMAaEkde-OmtvVHyL3K6Fa9cOA-zb-9Y0ItXsW1_ITp7V7jsznjkM6hi81FXUaIKsMj/?imgmax=800" alt="Spoon03" width="700" height="309" border="0" /></p>
<p><img title="Spoon04.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VlRhxOMU-rc/Vhqk6Npf4LI/AAAAAAAAJE8/X_NBLLZUGYA/Spoon04.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Spoon04" width="700" height="534" border="0" /></p>
<p>At around 8.20am, all three birds took flight and started to circle the Jubilee Wetlands. Slowly they started gaining height and eventually exited high, and in a North East direction.</p>
<p>I tried to capture this using the bridge camera.</p>
<p><img title="Spoon07.jpg" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HyK8NW5j6Yg/Vhqk_4a278I/AAAAAAAAJFE/LBqK7B_5JxM/Spoon07.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Spoon07" width="700" height="467" border="0" /></p>
<p>Within minutes of the Spoonbills leaving, the sun put in an appearance and a couple of Long Horn cattle came over to check out what all the fuss had been about.</p>
<p><img title="IMG_6990.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdScJMgt8fQz3xzKEgyTqYy0wfUDnVmd-oAjvFEdoTkhh3MGjk8J4cCJSVHgKilmUxccwWNtBNSv-9w388X6Kq318sXX9uswJo5r7_xDDdzzkqNCY-ReisJckL1C5_knsxkWMTHP9Z9dd/?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 6990" width="700" height="466" border="0" /></p>
<p>Using the leg colour rings, the birds were relocated, arriving at Conwy RSPB, North Wales at 1.50pm.</p>Moocherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16810873710498745138noreply@blogger.com0