Deer, Deer, Deer.

I've not gone anywhere to photograph wildlife in a while but thought it would be nice to spend a bit of time during a couple of days off from work visiting a few nearby estates which have deer in the grounds.
Around now (mid October) is the best time to see deer rutting. The rut starts towards the end of September as the days shorten, peaking through October and tailing off into November.

Wednesday was an early start up at Lyme Park, the weather was dull and windy with rain forecast just before lunch.

Walking up into the parkland and even before I had seen any deer the primeval sound of roaring stags could be heard reverberating through the hills and woodlands. After a few minutes I came across a small group of young stags having a little tussle between themselves, persistent roaring could be heard over the other side of the hill and the young stags seemed drawn to go and investigate.

 I followed the small group up over the hill and down into the adjoining valley where the roaring was originating from, there was a large stag with a medium sized harem at a woodland edge. The small group of stags I was following blended into the woodland joining a number of other stags some distance from the held harem. 

 Having sat for about an hour watching this group there were no physical interactions and the dominant stag was warding off any challenger with vocalizations and stance. 

 Roaring could still be heard all around so I left this group and headed over the next hill, there another harem could be seen on the opposing hill.

 A third harem, which was the largest, was visible at the bottom of the deer sanctuary area, this is an area of the park with no public access.

 Spots of rain were now starting to fall, so I headed back to the first harem I came across hoping to get some rainy pics. Unfortunately the direction the wind was blowing meant the rain blew straight on to the lens.

So as the weather intensified I called it a day and had a very soggy walk back to the car.

Thursday afternoon was spent at Tatton Park. It has a completely different landscape and feel than Lyme Park and the weather was warm and sunny. Here the deer are very easy to find and get close to, although I'm not sure this is a good thing as I witnessed a few people going way too close with their phones and small compacts to take pictures and obviously disturbing the deer. 

Having had a walk round to see what was where I quickly noticed that there was significantly less roaring here, two good sized harem could be seen with a few younger stags dotted round in between.

  Most of the vocalizations that could be heard were coming from a good sized group of Fallow deer.

With the Reds so quiet it was nice to watch the antics of the Fallow Deer, the bucks persistent repertoire of barky groans seemed to hold a good size harem of does, although while the buck was resting a number of them ran off to a nearby wooded area making a funny bleating noise as they ran.

 After an hour watching the Fallows I spotted a few stags starting to stir, rubbing their antlers on a fallen branch and scratching about on the floor.

  They started to head over to one of the held harems and it looked as if something was brewing,

  but a roar or two and a quick charge from the dominant stag quickly dissuaded any further conflict. 

Out of the two sites I'd definitely recommend a visit to both, ( http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme-park/ ) &  ( http://www.tattonpark.org.uk/ ) Personally this week I preferred Lyme Park, it was more challenging terrain and much more of a challenge to get a photo.

A little time with Sparrowhawks

Well I am definitely not good at blogging considering the last blog post was in April, but it's another "A" month so I am posting something new.


Sunday had been a generally overcast day with the odd shower so I was intermittently pottering in the veg garden trying to tackle the sudden flourish of weeds after the hot spell. The usual birds were calling in the hedgerow and surrounding trees, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Wren, and Blackbird. At some point the general sweet chatter turned to agitated alarm calls and quite a commotion started. After a few minutes I could hear a very repetitive Keee-Keee-Keee-Keee-Keee from the near by woodland, so I grabbed my camera and slowly wandered into the woods. The calls were loud and clear but seeing the culprit was rather challenging. I tucked myself up by a tree and waited. It wasn't long before I could see not one but three Sparrowhawks, two juvenile birds and an adult practising their aerobatic skills in the tree tops.

Watching them was one thing but getting a photo was most challenging, the light was poor and a persistent breeze blowing branches around made a clear view near impossible.

But with a little patience and luck a few good views appeared.

Having watched the family practising their arial prowess in the canopy it was amazing to have one perch above my head.

The River King

Often working by the river i regularly hear the shrill whistle and sometimes catch a quick glimpse of a blue blur as the Kingfisher flashes past. I have tried to photograph them before but only managed a few lucky distant photos. So for a first outing of the Stealth hide the Kingfisher seemed like a good challenge.

On Saturday morning i headed down to the river and set the hide up opposite a low overhanging branch that i had seen a Kingfisher perched on a few weeks ago, this only took a minute at most, got the tripod and camera set up, got my seat out and settled in.

Hiding in the hide.

Thirty or forty minutes quickly passed as i listened to the soft babbling of the river occasionally seeing a Nuthatch collecting moss for a nest, then suddenly the shrill chirp id had been waiting for, there were a few minutes of teasing calls then a Kingfisher flew onto the perch. It was a male and had fresh soily deposits on his bill (perhaps a sign of nest excavating), he stayed there for a little while and then flew a few meters up stream perching on a dead stem, still in view he had a little preen and flew off up stream.

Male Kingfisher

Male Kingfisher

Male Kingfisher with soily deposits on his bill

Male Kingfisher

Male Kingfisher

As i sat reflecting on my closest encounter i have ever had with such a wonderful bird another chorus of calls rang out down stream, like a blue bullet over the flow of the water a Kingfisher landed on the perch again, this time it was a female. She sat there quite content for about five minutes.

Female Kingfisher

Female Kingfisher

Watching the female on on the branch with her head bobbing up and down with an occasional sideways glance was very peaceful, the tranquillity was shattered by a cacophony of calls between the female and another Kingfisher up stream. Suddenly the male appeared with a fish which was orientated the wrong way for him to swallow, they both moved closer she happily accepted the fishy gift from him. While she swallowed the fish the male stood guard, a moment or two passed and the male left up stream with the female soon following behind. 

Male arrives with a fishy presant

A fishy exchange

I was left a little bit in awe, it was amazing to see such an intimate display of pair bonding so close. Quite thrilled and contented with what i had witnessed it was time to leave, i quickly packed the hide away and returned home for a brew.

Rippled watery reflection

Barn Owl Photo's

   I had planned on just blogging a few Barn Owl photos, but there have ended up being quite a few.

  This is a captivating and spellbinding bird, a real a joy to watch as it gracefully glides on its silent wings hunting for small rodents in tussocky grass's.
  The Photographs below were taken on two separate occasions about a week apart. Dressed in full camouflage and looking quite ridiculous i sat at the edge of the field and waited, i was rewarded with some great views of the owl hunting and catching its prey, best of all it had no idea i was there.

Perched in a Pine

Quartering the field in search of Rodents

Not its typical habitat

Quick turn

Keep searching

Sight & Sound specialist

Lock on target

Engage 

Success

A week later and some nice low evening light.