magic may

 

I was determined to really get out with my camera this month and make the most of what I think is the best month for wildlife. A brief trip to Loch Lomond was a great start and the black grouse lek where I spend two sessions was wonderful.

Then Mid Wales for a bird of prey day. Great subjects and such a variety of wonderful settings meant that even the weather did not stop the lovely images coming!

An afternoon at a hedgehog rescue centre was a smashing way to get up close a personal with such a charasmatic little animal and one that I had never before managed to do justice.

Then down to Dorset for two days with Britains amazing reptiles. All six species in one day and eight happy photographers...watch out for more dates soon!

focus4nature dates

I have just announced two more days to the focus4nature portfolio for this year. Added to another great raptor day in beautiful mid Wales in May I am also running an exciting new reptile photography day in Dorset.

In July I will also be leading a tour back to the lakes of Finland to make the most of exceptional opportunities to get close to and photograph ospreys and divers. Then later in the month it will be Finland again in search of bears and wolverines.

For all the information and more images visit the focus4nature website for all the tour details.

autumn mammals

The new mammal talk is nearly finished but good to add a few more shots this autumn.

at the bottom of the garden

This month I am doing some small mammal surveys for the mammal society. To get a bit of practice I have been working in the meadow at the bottom of my garden. Wood mice were the most common but this bank vole was my favourite.

Finland

I have just returned from a wonderful week in Finland where I have photographed osprey and black throated diver. We spent a lot of time with each species and I am absolutely delighted with the results. I have in particular some very special osprey pictures which I am keeping in my back pocket for now. Here is one though to whet the appetite.



osprey



Marvelous Mammals

An afternoon session at the wonderful British Wildlife Centre allowed me to be a bit creative with my camera and some of the great mammals that they have there. Foxes, badgers, otters all performed and I even managed some shots of the normally shy weasels.

Black hairstreak

I have not done much pre-planned butterfly photography but my friend Oliver Smart has been working on a project to photograph all the British species. His latest subject, black hairstreak brought him close to me in the Midlands so I took the opportunity to join him.

Normally these small butterflies rest and feed high up in the trees. This one was no exception but as it had chosen a particularly flexible hazel branch it was possible to slowly bend the branch down to bring him to photographic range. The butterfly remained unfussed and we were able to get great views and images..brilliant!