The Kestrel might be our commonest bird of prey but you can never go out and plan to photograph one. This summer I spent some time watching a well-marked male as he looked for prey on the ground from some telegraph wires. I had to try to anticipate the split second he left the wires and more often than not failed to capture the action. However, with luck I did succeed occasionally as can be seen in this weeks blog photo. Some immature birds are shown in the gallery. click here
Its amazing what wildlife you can encounter whilst out walking the dog. Along our local canal last week I came across a pair of Goosanders. I had just about enough time to take the dogs home, grab my camera, and return to film the male before he took off. The light was perfect and his bottle-green head showed up magnificently in the winter sunshine. click here
This weeks blog photo is of a Waxwing on top of a Rowan tree, in a Lancashire village, in the Ribble Valley. I found it on the 18th November when it was Lancashires first feeding Waxwing of winter. There are currently hundreds in Scotland and some in north-east England so by the month-end we could have our local Waxwings.
They have always been my favourite bird and you can see why if you browse this weeks gallery. click here
No visit to Islay is complete without time spent filming Chough. They are the rarest member of the Crow family and by far the most exciting to photograph, especially in flight.In fact all the photos shown in the gallery over the last four weeks were taken in just two days, in perfect weather, with exceptional subject matter. Where else would you wish to go to in Autumn? Click here
With an eight foot wingspan it is easy to see why the Sea Eagle is called the flying barn door. This winter on Islay adult and juvenile Sea-Eagles seem to be everywhere. It is rumoured that the two regular pairs have been joined by incomers from both Jura and Mull. All are now taking advantage of the abundance of Geese with visiting bird-watchers witnessing the striking and taking down of Geese. I wonder how long it will be before Islay becomes THE place to see Sea_Eagles instead of Mull?
October on Islay is the best time to see migrating Whooper Swans which look even better against the backdrop of Islay rainbows. The gallery also includes Fieldfares, Blackbird, Red Deer and even a Reed Bunting with multicoloured rainbow background. click here
It is some years since I was able to follow a female Otter with her young but last week in the Sound of Islay I was treated to a good hour in their company.Female Otters regularly mark their territory by sprainting on rocks along the shore. Whilst I expected last weeks female to do this I did not expect her very large young to accompany her out of the water and spraint next to her. It provided me with some interesting photos and just added to the delights of following an Otter along a mile of coastline. click here