Nigel's 2007 Wildlife Blog

My 2008 blog will appear on a new page 2008 blog

End of December End of the old         and soon in with the new Soon be looking at how many species seen during 2007 181 by 26th December At the beginning of 2007 there was roughly 100 different bird species featured on this site, this has grown to 166 by the end of 2007. And some targets for 2008. I would like to get 200 bird species online here by end of 2008. I am pleased with 17 Butterfly species in 2007 but I shall be making a big effort to double this during 2008

31st December

Looking out of the window at home saw the usual numbers of birds but two GS woodpeckers together today rather than the usual one.
 

30th December

A quick walk around part of Pitsford Reservoir, Northamptonshire produced no pictures but I did see some good birds, lots of winter ducks,  amongst the best sightings where: two Little Egrets, two GS Woodpeckers, and one male Smew.

26th December - Boxing Day My local canal Reasonable views of a Kingfisher on the local canal (although I bet this Perch did not think so) picture quality could be a lot better: it was a grab shot from quite a distance hence it has also been cropped But certainly great to see

 No sign of any Owls at a couple of nearby sites but with  so many people about this was no surprise, but did see
a lovely male Stonechat but gain to far away for decent pictures.

25th December - Seasons Greetings A very Happy Christmas to everyone that actually reads this blog. Not sure how many people (if any...) actually read this page Santa was good this year bringing me great wildlife related goodies. Two  Andy Rouse books, "RAW" and "Polar Bears" Along with a Paramo jumper, shirts, and shorts a couple of guide books in two tricky id areas for me: dragonflies and moths It's not often that I recommend a commercial product on these pages (unless you count Canon photographic equipment)  but I do recommend  Paramo equipment for both walking and wildlife photography

22th December The season for ducks A visit to Draycote Water in Warwickshire for the relatively long staying Lesser Scaup provided reasonable views. It was a bit overcast and the bird was asleep quite a bit but a few record shots were obtained. On the way back a visit to Great Easton and Eyebrooke Res. in Leicestershire produced no Owl's but did see a Smew that was to far away and too little light for any pics.    Lesser Scaup  (167th online species)

16th December Some good end of year wildlife at Slimbridge in Gloucester A brief afternoon visit to Slimbridge (WWT) for the afternoon produced some good views of Berwick Swans   (166th species to be added to this site). There was also close views of Pintail. We joined the Wildfowl and Wetlands trust as it seemed a reasonable idea considering we hoped to visit at least four reserves in the next 12 months.

Slimbridge - Dec 2007 Caerlaverock and Martin Mere in early 2008 hoping to get some better views and pictures of Barnacle Geese. with Welney only about an hour away then we will also pay a visit soon

Spring 2008 Yes you are reading correct, I meant to type 2008 We have booked a two week visit to Shetland and Fair Isle, hopefully a few new species to add along with some old favourites such as Puffins

27th September LT Skua

With a juvenile Long-tailed Skua only 25 miles away in Nottinghamshire, I thought it worthwhile going for a picture 161 bird species now online Long-tailed Skua

16th September Dragons

A visit to Ferymn Woods in Northamptonshire was rewarded with plenty of Dragonflies including good numbers of Southern Hawkers Southern Hawker

1st September Kingfisher

A visit to Brandon Marsh near Coventry to view the Kingfisher was rewarded with some photos after a long wait. Kingfisher    We also saw Hobbies catching dragonflies, Sparrowhawk, and Jay

20 August
Canon
Canon announce the very long awaited 40D, to be released during October 2007.  I am sure I will get one sometime towards the end of 2007 or early 2008, when the price drops a little and to check there are no bugs on the first few models.
Indeed talking of bugs, I am considering getting some Canon extension tubes for use with my existing lenses rather than upgrade any of the lens.  Perhaps the 12mm and a 25 mm

6 - 15 August
Updating the web site
The British wildlife A-Z has been split into various sections :  Birds    Butterflies and Moths  Mammals    Wild Flowers

160 species of British Birds now pictured on this web site.
16 species of Butterfly including 8 from Oadby in Leicestershire.
 

Butterflies During my recent Scottish trip I have added six new Butterfly species to my photographic list of species captured by digital SLR. I may target the 58 species of British Butterfly and attempt to see (and photograph) them all.   Not sure how practical this is.

Green-Veined White Butterfly

About 60+ pictures uploaded from last week in Scotland and 10+ pictures uploaded from earlier in June & July

27 July - 4 August
Another visit to Scotland : Speyside and the remote West Coast - a week on a commercial wildlife tour

Friday 25th Got some good pictures of Osprey at the Fishing in Speyside after a targeted visit before the tour started more Osprey Photo's Sunday 27th Several sites in Speyside visited and a few birds showing including Slav's at two different sites. Good to see several Scottish specialities but the only birds close enough for photographic interest was the Red-throated Diver showing well.
Monday 30th A ferry across to Eigg & Muck failed to produce Minke Whale, but did produce large rafts of Manx Shearwater.
Tuesday 31st The Loch Sunart area produced no Otters. Several White-tailed Eagle showed a few times. A mammal that I had been targeting for some time showed well as we saw four great Pine Martens early evening.  Even better was the fact that I managed to get several pictures in the gloomy light before it got to dark.

Wed 1st
Fairly quiet on the drive back from the West coast back to Speyside.
I managed to get a few long range shots of Black Guillemot (a species that I had wanted to photograph for a while) my results are poor and I am confident that I can do a lot better at another visit.

Thurs 2nd A walk up Cairngorm ended early with rain but we still managed to get got very good pictures of Dotterel, Ptarmigan, and Reindeer.  The reindeer was a species that I had not bothered to take pictures of before this. A walk around the forest produced Crestie but no where near close enough for any pictures. Thursday evening produced great views of three Badgers at a private hide in Speyside.

Friday 3rd
Dolphins showing well at Chanonry Point despite the rain, but no Otters or Minke on the Black Isle coast

A great week with some great views of wildlife. a bit cold and a bit wet at times but very good.

In terms of numbers, very few new species seen.
But .........
I am generally pleased with pictures of various species that I had seen before but not photographed such as Badgers, Martins, R-T Divers, etc.

19 - 22nd July
More Leicestershire Peckers & a New Body For Me !!!
Decided to purchase a Canon 400D body to replace my current body.  Ordered Wed afternoon, arrived Friday and as always, plenty of GS Peckers around to try it out on in the Garden.  But also pleased to see a Green W'Pecker feeding it's young on next doors front lawn. (even if there was not enough light to normally warrant getting my camera out.

July 2007
A week in Torridon :

Friday 6^th
A quick visit to Loch Ruthven whilst on the way to Torridon produced some good views of a Slavonian Grebe including a few pictures.  Two more were observed on the loch at a distance.

Saturday 7th After a very wet morning, we headed along Loch Maree and failed to see any Divers, did get very good views of a Common Gull including some close pictures. A visit along Torridon saw a few Stonechats including pictures of adult feeding their young.

 Sunday 8^th
Again too wet for walking in the morning, but later it cleared up and we visited the NTS hide at Torridon, not much about, but did manage a picture of Spotted Flycatcher on the path back to the car park.

Monday 9^th
Finally cleared up with good views of the mountains so we climbed Beinn Eighe in Torridon, good views of deer and a female Snow Bunting on the way up.  Various other birds overhead but to far away to get a positive ID until we got onto the ridge where we saw a Golden Eagle soaring below us and managed to get one quick photo as it soared past.  A few butterflies and stonechats on view on the descent path.

 Tuesday 10^th

An early start for the drive to Skye.  A superb day which started with two Otters at Loch Sligachan followed by two White-tailed Eagles at Portree.  Next stop was Neist point on the far west of Skye which saw a Basking Shark and two Minke Whales showing well for several minutes.  Among the birds seen were Manx Shearwater, Twite, Rock Pipit, as well as the occasional Skua amongst the many gulls and Auks.  A scan of the ridges to the East of Sligachan produced two Golden Eagles which showed well for a long time soaring around the high crags.  Overall a great day with a small list in terms of numbers but huge in terms of quality species seen.

White-tailed Eagle

Wednesday 11th & Thursday 12th
Fairly quiet although many distant birds seen while climbing Fionn Bheinn

Friday 13th A visit to Chanonry point produced several dolphin sightings at a distance including animals breaching.  On the way to Strathpeffer we got excellent views of two Red Kites and their nest in an old Caledonian Pine tree. Red Kite gallery

17 & 18th June
Leicestershire Peckers

Quite a bit of Woodpecker activity the past few days with both GS and Green in the garden together on 17th.  There was an adult male and juvenile in the garden together on 18th.  A few days ago quite a few Yellowhammers about while walking along some quiet roads behind our house.
Also plenty of Goldfinches, Sparrows, Tit's, Blackbirds, and Starlings in the garden with young recently.

3rd June Rutland Water A afternoon visit to Rutland water produced distant views of the Ospreys and some pictures of some Ducklings and Signets.  on the return home we saw Little Owl at Eyebrooke.

end of May

Odds n Ends A few more pictures from previous days out with the camera added, but no new species. Indeed: It's getting harder !!! with the Long-billed Murrelet added to the British species list, the number of birds that I need gets longer not shorter!! There are now 574 British Species.

19th & 20th May

Yorkshire A visit to Yorkshire coast of Bempton and Flamborough in very windy conditions produced the Gannets that I had hoped to see whilst looking through my camera lens. There were plenty of other sea birds such as Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes etc.   As well as plenty of Swallows, and Skylarks.  But very few Puffins. more pictures at Gannet's Grey Wagtail and Blackcap at Fountains Abbey on the way home.

11th May

Summer Leys A visit to Summer Leys LNR in Northamptonshire produced some excellent birds. Tree Sparrow, Tern's, and lots of Warblers singing including a few pictures of a Willow Warbler in my Warblers file. Perhaps the birds are not quite as shy with Richard Bedford and Ben-the-plumber  always on site there with cameras clicking.

7th May

My first Phalarope  -  Wilson's Phalaropre This was a very unexpected species when I looked online at what was about the other day, but as it was reasonably local at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire, I thought I would go and have a look. Although it wasn't very close it was a good bird (a female in breeding plumage) more pictures Wilson's Phalaropre

6th May

Bank Holiday Birds Reasonable numbers of birds in the garden including a Male GS Pecker on several occasions. A visit to RSPB Titchwell & Snetisham produced all the usual gull and wader suspects you would expect to find, including: Avocet, Reed & Sedge Warblers,  Whitethroat (pictured) and several Little Gulls

4th May

Web updated with a index of species on this site

British Wildlife   A - Z of our wildlife Species

Over the last few days a visit to Shrewsbury with work saw many Buzzards soaring above. A visit to my local patch saw the Little Owl in it's usual spot. Also plenty of birds in the garden at the moment.
Plenty of birds about such as: Glossy Ibis in Gloucestershire, rare Chiffchaff in Norwich,  and the Lesser Scaup at Eyebrooke, so hopefully  a few new species will be added soon.

1st May
End of April Web Update

Over 50 more pictures added to this site (there are now 400+ British wildlife pictures including nearly 150 different British Bird species on this site) not included in the above totals is the 175+ pictures in the A - Z section I have also started to delete some of the older pictures where I have now got a much better more recent picture to replace some of the older pictures. Targets: I think I will have to target some of the bird species I wish to add to this site:  A visit to Bempton in May / June for Gannet and a visit to Caverlock at the end of 2007 should produce some pics of species where I am not happy with current results. Then Cornwall or Anglesey sometime for the Choughs then there are the two Eagle species in Scotland etc. etc. the list is growing

20th - 22nd April
Yorkshire Dales

15th - 17th April
Lancashire

Three days on the Lancashire coast saw quite a few bird species (and Red Squirrels) at Marshside, Martin Mere, and Formby.  Nothing special amongst the birds but species seen included: Pintail, Marsh Harrier, Wheatear, Avocet, Bar-tailed Godwit, and several birds with young including Coot, Mallard, and Moorhen all with the "aaaarrrrhhh" factor.
A lovely Thrush in our garden so hopefully it will pose for pictures soon.

12th April
Eyebrooke Reservoir

Some good birds at a quick visit to Eyebrook today (although all to far away for pictures, as are most things at Eyebrooke)
Avocet feeding quite close in with both Ringed and Little-ringed Plover's.
Green-winged Teal swimming with many other Teals but close enough to view the vertical white stripe easily.
Osprey in it's usual tree, hopefully waiting for another to then breed.
Lot's of other birds such as Yellowhammer, Shellduck, Gargany, Grey Heron, etc.
Quick visit to Great Easton and the Little Owl was in it's usual spot, also good views of Yellowhammer and a Buzzard

11th April
Swallow

My first of the summer on the TV Arial on top of the roof. A quick photo (right) but........ I hope to get better pictures this summer than last summers efforts.

10th April
Little Owl

I decided on a quick visit on the way home from work to Eyebrook Reservoir, in Leicestershire to look for the Green Winged Teal and did not find it, saw a heron at reasonably close range with a big fish in it's mouth but by the time I got the camera out the Heron had swallowed the fish.  Heron's I also saw an Osprey fly over (my first for 2007) On the way home decided to call into Great Eason and the Little Owl was showing really well - click here for Little Owl - Larger picture

3rd - 9th April
More Bird Pic's

During the week a few places visited have lead to a few good views and therefore a few garden birds and others have added to the number of bird species on this site. A visit to Dovedale produced good views of Dipper,  Grey Wag, and Chiffchaff (as Dovedale is so popular, the birds are often more used to people and therefore slightly easier to photograph) Weeting Heath produced a few close Wood Lark although Stone Curlew and Sky Lark were also seen no usable pictures due to the distance of the birds. Marsh Harriers also seen at Lakenheath Plenty of Blackbirds, Starlings, Robins, Wrens, etc. in my garden at the moment and reasonable numbers of House Sparrows.

Wood Lark at Weeting Heath while hoping for Stone Curlew pictures Larks Wagtail's   Dipper

2nd April
British Deer
 

Whilst in Scotland last week, I got great views of wild Red Deer (and good but not great) views and photos of Sika and Roe Deer. I live near Bradgate Park in Leicestershire where there are good numbers of Fallow Deer. My pictures of Fallow need improving. This leaves two species Muntjack and Chinese Water Deer, these will need "targeted visits" rather than relying on luck (even with a targeted visit, there still needs to be a certain amount of luck involved)

I have added pictures of the four deer species already photographed to this site. Fallow Deer Red Deer Roe Deer Sika Deer

15th - 30th March

Scotland
I have just returned from two weeks walking and wildlife watching in Scotland with some great views and some more pictures for this web site.

Highlights included some good mammal sightings: In the Findhorn valley - Sika Deer and Feral Goat. Victoria Bridge (West Highland Way / Bridge of Orchy) - very close views of a herd of 50 Red Deer. Crianlarich - both Red and Roe Deer. Fortunately all of the above were viewable long enough for pictures. Reasonable views of Red Squirrels (although not close enough for better pictures than I already have) No Pine Marten's at the site where we were hoping for views (so another visit required)

This is my favourite picture so far in 2007 although the Red Deer portrait and female Red Grouse below are also pictures I am pleased with (more Feral Goat pictures)

more Grouse pictures more Goosander pictures

Amongst the 70 + species of birds viewed. Amongst the highlights were great views of many Red Grouse on the Southern Cromdale Hills near Nethy Bridge. Good views of female Goosander in Calender.  However it took several visits to view the Barrows Goldeneye and even then it was at a distance to great for photos. (this was a species I wanted some pictures of, but it was a long way out on Loch Venachar) On the Moray coast brief but good views of a Long Tailed Duck and several Gulls at Burghead. During the snow in mid March good views at the bird feeders of Chaffinch, Siskin, various Tit's, Robin, etc. as well as few pictures of Hooded Crow in the snow. The number of wildlife pictures on this site has risen to 350 with the new additions and 123 species of British Birds now featured.

Monday 5th March

Camera's
I have again been looking at one or two online sites to see if there is any news of the Canon 40D the reputed replacement for the Canon 30D. I fancy a camera that focuses faster and shot's more FPS when photographing a bird in flight.

Hope the Canon 40D will be available soon as a replacement for the 30D although the bank manager may not agree.
This would mean my current very light weight 350D for walking and mountaineering and the 40D for wildlife photography. A good combo, when will it be announced?
I am also saving up for a faster "prime" lens, I may get a 300 F4 for faster focusing with more light as the 400 and 500 cost a fortune and are huge monster lenses that will have to wait a few years yet.

Thursday 1st - Saturday 3rd March

Web update
I have updated the wildlife page quite a bit increasing the number of British species to over 110 and the number of British wildlife pictures to over 275

I have also added wildlife pictures of visits to Africa, India, and Borneo direct into this wildlife section.
link to these from wildlife home page

SE Owl I have added a gallery of pictures of the Leicestershire Short-eared Owl pictures taken over the past months. Short-Eared Owl Gallery Not been out with the camera much in recent weeks, but hopefully a few more pictures will be added later in March.

Wednesday 14th Feb

Brambling.
A small flock of c. 6 birds showing well in the garden
(online photo's, in the Finch's page)

Tuesday 13th Feb
American Robin.
After attending a meeting with work in the North Midlands, I went to see if I could see the American Robin reported on Birdguides.  It showed briefly but well while I was there. Photo's online American Robin

Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th Feb

Three good days in a cold but generally clear Norfolk some of the highlights being pics of Common Crane's in flight and Lesser Yellowlegs

Friday
Starting at Thornham Harbour for the Lesser Yellowlegs
Then Titchwell which produced some good waders with Black-tailed Godwit reasonably close
Cley saw large numbers of Brent geese feeding in the fields and a distant Barn Owl

Saturday
A search for Common Cranes in the fields between East Rushton and West Somerton produced no cranes but did give some views of Red-legged Partridges that were within photographic range.
A walk around Hickling Broad saw a very brief Barn Owl but otherwise was very quiet but very scenic until we visited the winter raptor watch point around 3pm. We stayed for about 3 hours and had good views of common crane (9 during daylight that were photographable at long range) over 20 later in poor light. At least 30 Marsh Harriers and the occasional Hen Harrier at distance.  Good views of Barn Owl on at least five occasions quartering the nearby fields.
(pictures of the Cranes and "Barnies" online)

Sunday
A visit to the grounds of Felbrigg Hall produced none of the Mandarin ducks that had been reported intermittently over the last few weeks. there was a few Jay's, Canada Geese, and other small woodland birds and many people around.
Drove to Titchwell for coffee and although very busy, had good views of House Sparrow, and the usual ducks and waders.  Got some reasonable shots of Golden Plover and Shoveler pictured at the top of this page.

Mid January

More Owl's
 

A few sites visited during the month including Hartshill Hayes in Warwickshire for Tawny Owl (see pictures in "Owl gallery") Great Easton in Leicestershire where Short-eared, Little and occasional Barn Owl's were viewed. A site in Northamptonshire well known for Barn Owl's also proved productive. Overall a good period between Jan 1st and Feb. 8th, with Owls were seen on at least 10 occasions (4 species seen during the first few weeks of 2007) including one day that produced 3 species in one evening.

Monday 1st January 2007

Starting the Year
A very windy day and after spending several days walking locally in December, we decided to go to the RSPB Nene Washes at Eldernel in search of Barn Owl. It was very quiet walking around with little of interest other than views of a Green Woodpecker that were much more distant than I get in the garden.  A Barn Owl then showed well although often distant for over 30 mins.

All Photos Copyright Nigel Spencer