Mike Randall Bird Photography

Near & Far

2009-11-23T20:23:00.003Z

Robin at Mereshead

Full side on view

Distant Pintail at Mereshead

Little Grebe at North Cave

A few shots from the last two weeks. The Robin sat steady and near to us in the hedgerow on the footpath at Mereshead. The Fieldfare and Redwings kept moving on and too far off.

On Friday last we visited Robert Fullers excellent current exhibition. As we left Fieldfare were below the car on the berry bushes but the road was too narrow to stop.

The Pintail shot is one of a few distant shots I manged at Mereshead.

After Robert's exhibition we went to North Cave YWT where of the few shots I managed a few were of the Little Grebe.

Mereshead RSPB

2009-11-13T19:45:00.005Z

Barnacle Geese

Pink Footed Goose

Pink Footed Fly Over

Last Sunday after the wet Saturday we set off reasonably early from Dumfries 15 miles south west to Mereshead. Arriving at 8:15am it was a cracking morning, beautiful low (a bit difficult) sunlight.

We seemed to be the first there and hundreds of Barnacle Geese were in the field over the hedge from the car park, more geese were landing all the time. A bit distant for my lens but a great sight.

We managed to visit the two wetland hides in our two and a half hours on the reserve. It's a great place we could not stay long as we had to travel home but we hope to be back soon.

A couple of times hundreds of Barnacle Geese took to the air, by the time we left they were in a field nearer to the coastline. The visitor centre estimate was of 12,000+ Barnacle Geese on the reserve I think it said second highest count, not sure if that's ever. I managed a few shots as they went overhead.

Plenty of Fieldfare around eating on berry bushes but they moved off at every approach!

If you want to see Barnacle Geese visit this coast between October to March to see where the whole population of Svalbard Barnacle Geese winter.

Caverlock WWT

2009-11-09T20:22:00.008Z

What does WWT stand for? Wild and Wet? We traveled to Dumfries & Galloway on Saturday, all the way in glorious sunshine, the whole journey through the North Pennines was fantastic. The last 30 miles though turned to rain and it was heavy rain on Saturday throughout our visit to this reserve.

Great day though, really enjoyed the visit. We traveled to see the Baranacle Geese and there was good numbers grazing on the meadows, I think the estimate was 7,000+, a little distant but great to see.

The Whooper Swans are pictured through the glass of the hide where they feed them twice daily, not great pictures, the best I could do in the conditions on the day. The Widgeon was also taken through the windows.

Black & White

2009-11-06T18:41:00.003Z

Having missed out on the Red Flanked Bluetail two weeks ago in the picture sense I thought I would post this Magpie pictured at Filey Dams YWT. Photographed in good light close to the hide on main pool three weeks ago I was pleased with the pictures.

I did see the Bluetail, it was directly in front of me but all I saw on two occasions was the underside of its wings as it flew. I could not say I looked at the bird and took in its id features, I just saw the underside of its wings. This was on the Sunday when there was a large chasing pack after the bird. I can't say I enjoyed the experience really.

I also managed to slip on some mud and later noticed my hand hurting. Next day I had to go to A & E and have a ring cut off a badly swollen finger. It still hurts, the finger that is, whose said birdings safe!

Autumn Colours & why are Wifes always right!

2009-11-01T17:07:00.003Z

A weekend of contrast this one, yesterday was lovely today!

We did go this morning to Filey Dams in search of a Jack Snipe that had been seen early morning but no joy in the heavy winds and rain. Yesterday by contrast was lovely and we had a nice walk around Harwood Dale where I pictured this wasps nests and beautiful fungi. There was plenty of small birds including Bull Finch and Gold Finch. We also saw a male common darter.

The only problem with the walk we do in Harwood is that it is a rectangle and the last leg for us is always back down the road. the locals will know this gives open views out towards the N Y Moors. Pat says, 'I wonder if there are any Fieldfare in the fields where we have seen them before'. No says I , 'I don't know why you are wasting your time looking' dismissing her theory that they return to the same fields.

Next thing is a flock of birds in the air landing in the top of a tree. Guess what Fieldfare, well you can imagine the comments, I am gutted.

I want to get close to Bull Finch & Fieldfare this season, any advice welcome.

Sorry, for the lack of recent postings due to family commitments, decorating, visitors etc. Hope to do much more photography now.

Mike

Greys in too!

2009-10-07T20:10:00.002+01:00

Rock Dove

Wood Pigeon

Continuing the new season colours theme.

I always think grey goes with pink, so more from Sunday.

The Rock Dovewas at Bempton and the Wood Pigeon and Grey Heron at Filey Dams.

The young Heron was havinga field day catching fairly big fish in little or no water in the pool in front of the hide on main pool.

Pinks In

2009-10-05T19:29:00.002+01:00

New season colours!

Great to see some Pink Footed Geese flying high over and around Filey Dams YWT yesterday, I made it 23 in the flock. We had seen and more correctly heard a flock whilst in Scotland but it was good to see these locally.

Unfortunately, they were never down on the deck, fairly high up in bright light but I think worth showing.

Scottish Blankety Blank

2009-09-28T20:10:00.004+01:00

Half way up the beautiful Glen Roy

Wren at ISO1600!

Sorry, for the recent lack of posts but we have been away to the Scottish Highlands for a week.

Unfortunately, it was a very wet week and it prevented us getting to some of the places we hope. We had to mostly travel east 60 miles or so for fine weather, but the scenery is fantastic (my favourite place). Dalwhinnie Distillery was a nice diversion one day.

I had high hopes to see one or two of Scotland's special species, when ever we got the chance scouring the hill tops for a glimpse but we drew a blank, complete blank. Oh, we did see three Red Squirrels not being elusive in the tree tops but running across the road and sitting on fence posts.

I did manage this Wren shot nicely framed in the birch, can I call it a Scottish Wren!

You never know _ _ _ _ _!

2009-09-13T19:55:00.004+01:00

Yesterday was absolutely glorious here, temperature up to 27C, no wind, beautiful light but not too hot. No birding, a few small jobs to do.

Today was supposed to be cloudy, yes it was very cloudy, dark, light showers. Having set off originally for a walk, the weather slightly dampened our enthusiasm (whimps). Having ridden around a bit we find ourselves sat on Holbeck Car Park eating our lunch, it brightened slightly no birds around.

Having no bread Pat put out her Pork Pie crusts (not mine - no way) and a broken digestive. Fear not, having begun to get dejected and thinking of a blank weekend in come the Med Gulls which have been back a few weeks. Three adult birds and a second winter bird.

So I have a good time getting flight shots of these birds without even leaving the car. Just getting ready to go and we spot a Common Kestrel at the top of the hill quite close. I managed to get some shots before it flew off.

It just shows you never know what to expect.

Beach Babes

2009-09-07T20:30:00.005+01:00

I became a beach bum yesterday firstly walking on the South Bay Beach at Bridlington where there was a few gulls the usual suspects. It was a really pleasant morning and after walking over some hefty (ish) streams to get nearer the waters edge we did see a lot of gulls in the distance but too far to walk to given the amount of time we had on our parking ticket.

Returning to the car we went down the coast to Fraisthorpe and whilst the gulls were there for a while more interesting was the Sand Martins flying low over the cliff tops. Down on the beach I was lucky enough to see two chicks in one nest hole, I thought this was quite late but they look as if they will fledge in the next week so hopefully they will migrate ok. Brilliant birds.

Weekend Picture Post

2009-08-31T21:18:00.004+01:00

Greenshank at Saltholme RSPB last Friday.
Pictured from the wildlife watching hide. a little distant and in dull conditions.

Gold Finch at Saltholme

Herring Gull at Flamborough today

and again

& again in flight.

Great Black Backed Gull, Flamborough today.

Strewth!!!

2009-08-24T21:33:00.002+01:00

What strength we found this Great Silver Beetle (Nicrophorus vespillaides) turning the body of this poor old shrew.

The beetle kept moving underneath the shrew and physically lifting it and moving it. One of our reference books describes exactly what it was doing. It is a distinctive Sexton Beetle which buries the corpses of small mammals and birds on which eggs are laid and larvae feed.

I also love the colours of the flies on the corpse.

Can you tell that I cannot find many birds at the moment!

Painted Lady

2009-08-18T21:47:00.004+01:00

I resisted posting this species as they are so plentiful this year but for that very reason there has been no lack of photo opportunities. These pictures were taken on 12th and 17th of this month.

Dark Green Fritillary

2009-08-10T22:21:00.004+01:00

A new butterfly for us this year was the Dark Green Fritillary which we saw on the sand dunes at Ross, just north of Bamburgh, Northumberland, a lovely butterfly. My pictures do not show the dark green and silvery spots that are on the hind wing.

Dragon & Damsel

2009-08-06T22:24:00.002+01:00

Southern Hawker

Two pictures from this last week. Firstly a Southern Hawker Dragonfly (Aeshna cyanea) photographed at Top Hill Low last Friday lunch time adjacent to the picnic benches in the car park.

Secondly an Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) pictured in Harwood Dale on Sunday one of the family of species that perch with spreadwings.

Pictures taken at the long end of my zoom telephoto lens.

Farne Isles 8 - Inner Farnes

2009-08-04T18:00:00.005+01:00

A post of the second part of our Farnes trip. After 2 hours on Staple Island we had 20 minutes or so by boat to Inner Farne and the toilets! No such luxury's on Staple Island.

What a glorious place, if you have not been you might have seen on t.v. where Artic Terns attack humans in defence of their young so it pays to have a hat. Several times a bird sat on my hat and had a dig with its bill.

Fantastic birds are Artic Terns, you have to take care as young are sometimes on the board walk, or very close too. I hope you like some pictures of these birds. This is my last post from these isles, honest!

Farne Isles 7 - Kittiwake

2009-07-30T21:44:00.003+01:00

Young Kittiwakes feeding

Head shot

A couple of shots of another sea bird on the Farnes the Kittiwake a really attractive gull with attractive youngsters.

Farne Isles 6 - Puffin Flight

2009-07-27T21:40:00.003+01:00

More shots from the Farnes of attempts to get some flight shots.

I found this difficult as they are fairly fast flyers and tracking them till they become a reasonable size in the view finder frequently leads to pictures with wings and bits chopped off. My lens is fairly slow to focus and flight photography is difficult but action shots are so satisfying.

I hope you like these few shots from a good number attempted.

Farne Isles 5 - The bill, the gape, the tongue and the sand eel

2009-07-23T21:40:00.003+01:00

The gape

The tongue

Wide open now!

Job done!

Sounds like a good new Bob Dylan track title!

The bill of the Puffin is pretty obvious and unique. The gape is those yellow blobs at the base of the bill as you see in the first picture. The tongue holds the sand eels down in the bill, it goes up into the roof of the mouth and holds down the sand eels, the advantages of this are displayed.

The warden on Inner Farne told us the record apparently is 67 sand eels in one bill (not a lot of people know that), I have no idea how that is known . Perhaps it should be in the Guinness Book of Records as it sounds out of this world!

Farne Isles 4 - Puffin Portrature

2009-07-23T21:25:00.003+01:00

A further series of Puffin shots from Staple Island, this time of single Puffins in isolation which I hope you like.

Farne Isles 3 - Puffin family groups

2009-07-22T21:18:00.006+01:00

What a great experience a visit to the Farnes is, having read about it and seen great pictures from a number of great photographers does not prepare you for a first visit.

Previously I have seen Puffins at Flamborough and Bempton of course, great places which I recommend but Puffins in large groups allowing people close access as you get on the Farnes is something different.

I was taken with the number of sea birds reeling around the isles as we went out on the boat, the groups of Guillemot stood atop rocks providing great views. Disembark at Staple Island and immediately at the top of the steps are Puffin groups as you get all over this rocky isle similarly with Shags and other birds.

Love the black faced youngster!

Farne Isles 2 - Shag

2009-07-21T20:40:00.003+01:00

Preening shots and younger family members.

Farne Isles 1 - Shag

2009-07-21T19:56:00.003+01:00

Last Thursday we took the birding trip tothe Farne Isles and had a wonderful experience with birding up close. It is amazing how the occupants of the Isles are so used to people allowing close up shots usually unimaginable in the wild.

My first series is of the Shag, this set concentrating on close up head shots.

Alnmouth Beach - Common Terns

2009-07-19T21:28:00.004+01:00

Last Tuesday whilst on holiday we had a slight change from birding to visit Cragside one of our favourites properties.

After a walk in the morning to the lakes, Nelly's Moss North & South we went to look around the house in the afternoon. The property was very busy though and the queses of slow moving people reminded us why we are not so keen these days, give me a quiet beach or reserve anytime.

So we moved onto the coast and parked on the beach car park at Alnmouth after an ice cream I could see Terns diving on the shore line and rushed with the camera to see what was happening.

Terns were fishing on the shore line catching Sand Eels in the kelp at the waters edge, fantastic luck. The first picture gives an idea of the scene, I took lots of shots from a wonderful opportunity.

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)

2009-07-18T16:57:00.003+01:00

Last Monday we visited the beach at Ross just North of Bamburgh, a short walk to the beach from the parking area leads through sand dunes which held a number of butterflies and moths (more later) to another glorious Northumberland Beach.

The beach was empty excepy for a couple bathing when we arrived and held maybe 12 people an hour later. The Sandwich Tern was my first pictures of the holiday and my first of this bird.