Photographing Wildlife

“Here’s a few tips when taking wildlife photos in your garden !”

This is a repost : Original Post

When you think about wildlife photography, most people would think of visiting a wildlife reserve, national park, or just getting out in the wilds. However, you can take great wildlife photos much closer to home.

 

There are quite a few benefits of photographing wildlife in your garden. The most obvious one being that you don’t have to travel anywhere to get there. It’s also much more comfortable – if you get thirsty or hungry you can just pop inside for a drink or snack. You don’t need to carry a large amount of equipment with you – you can just fetch what you want when you want it.It also enables you to do a quick bit of wildlife photography whenever it’s convenient. Of course you can’t guarantee that there will always be an obvious subject out there whenever you want it. But that would be just the same if you were traveling many miles to a nature reserve.

In nature, habitats tend to cover large areas. But in your garden you can have a wide range of habitats in just a small area. A couple of trees can become a woodland, the lawn becomes fields, and a small pond becomes a lake (well maybe not quite, but near enough). This allows you to attract a large variety of different wildlife to your garden. When thinking about wildlife photography in your garden, you need to think about the type of wildlife you would like to attract, and then plan your garden appropriately. If you want to photograph birds, then trees / shrubs for them to perch / hide in, water to drink and wash in, and a good supply of food will all help bring them to your garden.

You can go further than this, if you’re looking to photograph a particular type of bird, for example. Look up what it likes to eat, what sort of habitat it likes, and then make sure that your garden will cater to its needs.Enticing animals into your garden to feed can certainly help you get some photos of them. But if you can get them to live in your garden, then this opens up even more regular photo opportunities. Putting up nest boxes for birds or bee houses for solitary bees, for example.

Do be mindful not to disturb animals when they’re nesting though. For example, if you’re not usually out in the garden much, but then go out when you get some nesting birds with chicks, the adults will be very wary of you and may stay away from the nest. This could result in the chicks missing out on vital feeds, or even the adults deciding to abandon the nest altogether.If you’re out in the garden regularly though before they choose the nest site, then they’ll be much more likely to tolerate you being around, so long as you keep your distance.If you’re after frogs, then a small (or large) pond is a great idea. Put piles of rocks nearby that the frogs can hide under – they don’t spend all their time in the water. A pond is also great for many insects, such as dragonflies, damselflies, and hoverflies. And these in turn attract other animals that feed on them.

A corrugated metal sheet laid out in an area that gets some sunlight can prove a magnet for snakes and lizards. As they are cold blooded, they need to warm up at the start of each day. The sheet heats up much faster in the sun than the surrounding ground. This makes it an ideal place for them to hide under, out of the sight of potential predators above.

For butterflies and caterpillars think about the types of plants you have in your garden. While flowers attract butterflies with their nectar, think also about plants that the caterpillars eat. Many have quite specialized tastes. By planting their foodplants you can attract butterflies looking for somewhere to lay their eggs. And it also gives you the chance to record the complete life-cycle, from caterpillar to butterfly.

As well as thinking about the wildlife you would like to attract when setting up your garden, also think about it from a photographic perspective. For example, when putting up a bird feeder, you want to place it somewhere that you can get reasonably close to without scaring the birds off. If you can place it near a point where you can easily photograph from the house, so much the better. A bush growing near the feeder will provide a nice place for birds to perch, allowing you to get nice, natural shots of them. You may want to trim back parts of the bush to reduce visual clutter and make it easier to get a clean shot. You can even go further and just use a cut branch placed near the feeder for the birds to use. This results in much more appealing photos than a bird sitting at a plastic feeder.

Think about the backgrounds too. Having climbing plants covering walls and fences will usually provide a nicer, more natural looking backdrop than bare brick or wood.Although photographing wildlife in your garden allows you to get pretty close, for most subjects you’re still going to need a telephoto lens (300mm or greater) if you want to capture them at a reasonable magnification. Smaller subjects, such as insects, will generally let you get a bit closer, but due to their small size the maximum magnification ratio of the lens can become an issue. For these subjects a macro lens is highly recommended.

For photographing birds, you can use your house as a hide. It is best (though not essential) to shoot through an open window or door as shooting through the glass of a window can reduce the contrast of an image. You may have to deal with reflections caused by the window too if shooting through the glass.

If you have a door that can slide open, this is perfect as it will let you shoot to the left or right without getting in your way. Whereas with a window you can only shoot in the direction that it opens.It is best to open the window or door, then wait for birds to arrive. If you open the window / door after the birds have arrived, then you’ll likely scare them off. So long as you’re not too noisy, and don’t move around too much, the birds should ignore you.

Lastly, if you don’t have much wildlife in your garden at the moment, making it wildlife friendly won’t change the situation overnight. You need to think of it more as a long term project. The results can be great, both for your photography, and also just for the general enjoyment of wildlife watching.

Mondays Wildlife

Another week has come and gone and once again I found myself dawdling though the countryside with camera in hand. I decided to take my beloved out for lunch so it was just a case of how to fill the morning and afternoon. After a extra 40 winks (that’s sleep) I watched a bit of television and drunk few days worth of coffee. I used to drink more everyday,but now with early starts and late finishes I only get time for the one. I got dressed and headed out visiting two countryside areas I’d visited before,Thriftwood near Bicknacre and the Essex Way near Great Leighs.

Both were rewarding as I managed to shoot some good insect photos and then in the afternoon spot a Common Blue and a Green Veined White butterfly. The common blue is Britain’s (and probably Europe’s) most common and most widespread blue, found as far north as Orkney and on most of the Outer Hebrides. A range of grassland habitats are used: meadows, coastal dunes, woodland clearings, and also many man-made habitats, anywhere their food plants are found.

Males are often very obvious as they defend territories against rivals and search out the more reclusive females. In the south of Britain there are two broods a year, flying in May and June and again in August and September. Northern England has one brood, flying between June and September. In a year with a long warm season, there is sometimes a partial third brood in the south flying into October.

The Green-veined White is a fairly small, white butterfly. Adults fly between April and October. A common butterfly, it is found in a wide variety of habitats, including hedgerows, woodland rides and meadows, as well as farmland, gardens and parks. Water-cress is a very common host plant for the butterfly. The food plants of the caterpillars are members of the cabbage family, including Cuckooflower and Hedge Mustard.

The Green-veined White is white with black wingtips and one or two black spots on the forewing. Smaller than the Large White, it has less black in the wing. It can be distinguished from the very similar Small White by the thick grey-green stripes along the veins on the undersides of its wings. It also tends to be found in damper habitats.

The sun shone brightly for the best part and even though it got warmer it was still a little chilly. As I’ve been working a six day week it difficult to synchronize the weather to our lifestyle and most days the weather has been lousy. Hopefully though we may get out together sometime soon and enjoy some quality time together.

 

 

Natural History Tour

“Roll up roll up for the Natural History Tour
Roll up roll up for the Natural History
Roll up..That’s an invitation
Roll up for the Natural History Tour….step right this way”

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On my one day off this week I chose the morning to visit what they said is a important site of scientific interest just over the county boarder in Hertfordshire. The site in question is Thorley Wash near Spellbrook,just south of Stortford. It is a reserve filled with birdsong south of Bishop’s Stortford. One of a string of wetlands flanking the Stort Navigation. Thorley Wash was formerly known as Thorley Flood Pound as it used to act as flood storage for the Stort Navigation. It was decommissioned in 2004 and the site has been restored to a more natural state.

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Thorley Wash was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1986 for its botanical interest associated with tall wash grassland habitat. Wildflowers present include ragged robin, marsh marigold, fen bedstraw and meadowsweet. There are also records for early and southern marsh orchids. Surveys have confirmed the presence of a Red Data Book species, Desmoulin’s whorl snail. This is a tiny snail that measures less than 3mm! They are most visible during the warmer months, however their size makes them difficult to spot. The wet habitats are good for a diverse range of wildlife including dragonflies, damselflies, birds and bats. Areas of long vegetation provide shelter for small mammals and reptiles.

  

While  I was there I admired the scenery as well as seeing Butterflies,Bees, a heron, Moorhens, Ducks, Aeroplanes,Barges and Trains of which there were many. Wildlife conservation can seem like a thankless slog at times, with red tape, lack of funding and general apathy all-too-common challenges. The hard work and grit does pay off, however, and every now and then it is important to take a step back and admire the results.

Thorley Wash Nature Reserve, for example. When Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust took control of Thorley Wash Nature Reserve, it was in a poor state. Trees (particularly the dominant willow) were overgrown, blocking out light for other vegetation, and ditches were clogged. Accessibility for the public was also a problem.

  

This was especially worrying given that the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Thorley Wash is one of the few wet grassland areas remaining in Hertfordshire, after most were drained following the Second World War to make space for agriculture. The wash also boasts stunning botanical diversity, as well as very rare fen plants.

Delving into New Subjects

“I have no particular talent, I am merely extremely inquisitive” –  Albert Einstein

  

It’s a sunny March day and as the rain (I can see the dark clouds out of the window) approaches, I wonder what the summer has in store for us ? The days have become a lot brighter and lighter in the evenings too, so we’ve been looking to the summer season but with the temperatures a bit up and down I think we’ll have to wait a little for any chance to head off into the countryside.

I long to get out, I long to get away from the drudgery of constant job searching, times at gigs and going out taking photos helps but it would be nice to have a real meaning in life and the benefit of a regular wage and a continuous flow of money going into my account. I love exploring nature and looking at new subjects and fields that I’ve never looked at before.

This time a year ago I’d just done a solar energy course and I was on the verge of contesting a local council election and although both were very interesting neither led to anything very positive in the great scheme of things. In this post or the rest of it I thought I’d mention,identify and describe some of the wildlife traits of those that appear in my photos, before I start to look forward to going outside again in a few days.

Owl                                                            Paper Kite

Butterflies are wonderful to look at and I’ve managed to shoot around half a dozen some while out walking…The Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell for example, others we saw at Tropical Wings the Paper Kite and Owl butterflies while some occasionally fly in through the window.

Small Tortoiseshell                                           Speckled Wood

Of the British butterflies the two I saw are the most common. The Speckled Wood (Scientific name: Pararge aegeria) is dark brown with creamy white patches on wings. This Butterfly occurs in woodland, gardens and hedgerows. Butterflies often perch in sunny spots (as in my photo), spiralling into the air to chase each other. The aptly named Speckled Wood flies in partially shaded woodland with dappled sunlight. The male usually perches in a small pool of sunlight, from where it rises rapidly to intercept any intruder. Both sexes feed on honeydew in the tree tops and are rarely seen feeding on flowers, except early and late in the year when aphid activity is low.

The Small Tortoiseshell (Scientific name: Aglais urticae) is among the most well-known butterflies in Britain and Ireland. The striking and attractive patterning and its appearance at almost any time of the year in urban areas have made it a familiar species. It is one of the first butterflies to be seen in spring and in the autumn it often visits garden flowers in large numbers. Bright orange and black wings with white spot in forewing, this separates it from the larger and much rarer Large Tortoiseshell. It is widespread throughout Britain and Ireland, commonly found in gardens (and living rooms lol).

 

Flies of all kinds are less delightful to most people but some make great photos as well as providing some birds with a tasty meal. Common flies are eaten by a host of animals such as Toads, Spiders, Dragonflies, Damselflies, and Wasps also Shrews, Robins, Sparrows, Ducks and even domestic Cats.

Red Damselflies

Around or near water there are many different types of flies. Dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera) are heavy-bodied, strong-flying insects that hold their wings horizontally both in flight and at rest. By contrast, damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) have slender bodies and fly more weakly; most species fold their wings over the abdomen when stationary, and the eyes are well separated on the sides of the head. Loss of wetland habitat threatens dragonfly and Damselflies populations around the world which is such shame as they are wonderful to photograph.

My photos portray Damselflies several different kinds including a Red Damselfly pair mating in wheel formation and Emerald found near Sandford Lock down by the River Chelmer. Many damselflies have elaborate courtship behaviours. These are designed to show off the male’s distinctive characteristics, bright colouring or flying abilities, thus demonstrating his fitness. Calopteryx males will hover in front of a female with alternating fast and slow wingbeats; if she is receptive she will remain perched, otherwise she will fly off.

Metallic Green – Blue

Other behaviours observed in damselflies include wing-warning, wing-clapping, flights of attrition and abdominal bobbing. Wing-warning is a rapid opening and closing of the wings and is aggressive, while wing-clapping involves a slower opening of the wings followed by a rapid closure, up to eight times in quick succession, and often follows flight; it may serve a thermo-regulatory function. At night, damselflies usually roost in dense vegetation, perching with the abdomen alongside a stem. If disturbed they will move around to the other side of the stem but will not fly off.

Red Admiral  and Postman Butterflies

What is in the Countryside ?

When walking through the countryside, especially in the summer it’s not hard to appreciate all that is there. Apart from frequently enjoying the freedom and remoteness, it is the feeling that you actually belong to part of nature that is the most pleasurable. In fact many words can sum up this feeling….enjoyable, satisfying, delightful, good fun, fulfilling, rewarding and so on.In spring and in summer the countryside is normally a tranquil and peaceful place,also it is a hive of activity which is not always obvious to the naked eye.

With the crops already planted by March, the warmer weather and the April showers then aid rapid plant growth. In Britain the types of crops grown has changed over the decades, where once the staples of wheat, barley, maize and oats were grown, we have seen a rapid increase of rapeseed (Brassica Napus). Production of Rape, as it is also known, increased sixfold worldwide between the years 1975 and 2007 and during that and earlier periods the UK’s own production went from  0.007 million tonnes in 1965 to 2.1 million tonnes in 2013.

While its colour a bright yellow definitely brighten up and gives colour to the countryside, its pungent odour can give hay fever sufferers a terrible time. Historically it was used as a lubricant for machinery, but more recently thanks to advances in science it is now more commonly used in the production of animal feeds and edible vegetable oils and also as biodiesel fuel.Many other typical British crops still get grown in the English countryside, with the like of Potatoes, Parsnips, Carrots and Turnips being amongst the most popular.

Moving through the fields we often hear the rustling of animals and birds amongst the crops and in the ditches, but very rarely do you see that many. When you do they tend to run out or fly off and startle us at the same time. The animals (mammals and birds) we tend to see regularly are grouse, pheasants and even the odd rabbit, while the birds tend to be either wood pigeons or doves.

All the time though you can see evidence of others such as Badgers or Foxes or hear the rustling of mice and voles. The Badger is a very shy mammal that can be found throughout the country on farmland, in meadows, on the edges of woodlands and on grassland that is regularly cut. It is very rarely seen because it is nocturnal which means it sleeps during the day and does most of its activity at night. Normally the sets of holes give the game away. When I got my new camera lens in September I was very fortunate to see and shoot some Roe Deer as the hurtled across a ploughed field.

In the UK we have twenty-four native land mammal species living in England today. We used to have more, but some mammals like the wolf, lynx, buffalo and wildcat have become extinct in this country. The natural environment of this country is actually well-suited to mammals and this is why so many other species of mammal that have been introduced to our country do rather well here. These introduced species include: house mice, black rats, brown rats, hares, common rabbits, fallow deer and more recently the Sica and Muntjack Deer, the American Grey Squirrel and the Mink.

 

Our native mammals form a group of varied creatures which provoke great affection in children and adults alike. As well as the Hazel Dormouse, we have three other mice. We also have three species of shrew, three species of vole and two native deer: the Roe Deer and the Red Deer. We have the Badger, the Red Fox, the Hedgehog, the Red Squirrel, the Weasel, the Stoat, the Polecat, the Pine Marten, the Mole and the Otter. Not forgetting of course our native Wild Boar and European Beavers which were both extinct in this country, but have now been reintroduced in the wild.

 

Whether trekking in Spring,Summer or Autumn through the countryside you cannot help but notice the insects, especially during the hot weather. Insects, to many humans can be a nuisance, either with their bites, stings, touch on the skin or even just by appearance. The truth is though they form an important part of the food chain and they should never be disregarded as unimportant. Insects are in abundance especially in the shady areas and also among the nettles around the rivers and lakes. These insects are mainly: Gnats, Midges, Various types of Fly, Wasps, Bees, Beetles, Grubs and Bugs. Also in attendance are many animals the resemble insects: Centipedes, Millipedes, Woodlice, Harvestmen and other forms of Spiders.

The favourite insect among children tends to be the Butterfly as they are seen in the summer in the countryside and in the garden and tend to range in size and colour too. Butterflies tend to get favouritism over the Moth as they come out at night and tend to be seen as a pest in bedrooms and around lights.

When walking around the countryside over many years I get to notice what things have disappeared and also how the countryside has been carved up by overzealous agricultural policies. Bee’s for example, tend to nest in trees. A tree is the natural nest site for the honey bee. A hollow tree provides a dry, dark, cavity with wood roof on which the bees can fix their combs. Protected from rain and wind and some insulation, although honey bees have such a good air conditioning system this need only be minimal.

A small entrance helps the bees that guard the entrance against wasps and alien honey bees that might want to steal the honey. Honey bees also need a supply of water in the spring for diluting honey stores and in the summer for cooling the nest. Overall I love the countryside mainly because its peaceful and as these photos show if you hang around you’re bound to see some of natures wonders.

(All photos in this post were taken by myself and are copyright of Our World Photographics)

Election Day

 

Its polling day here in the United Kingdom today in what is looking like the closest fought election in a generation. With neither the Conservatives nor New Labour holding a decisive lead we could be heading for a minority government or yet another coalition. Minority governments by their nature never seem to last too long and tend to be dissolved within months calling new elections. There have been only a few occasions since 1900 when a single party has not commanded a parliamentary majority. Indeed, the recently dissolved Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government was the first of its type in Britain since the National Government between 1931 and 1945.

The Labour Party, led by Harold Wilson, formed a minority government for seven months after the General Election of February 1974. That situation lasted until the prime minister called another election in October that year, following which the Labour Government obtained a tiny majority of three.The following administration also became a minority government after the collapse of the Lib–Lab pact in 1977, and the then British Prime Minister James Callaghan’s Government fell in March 1979 as the result of a vote of no confidence which was carried by a single vote and let in Margaret Thatcher.

  

The last occasion on which a minority Government held power in the UK was between December 1996 and the general election in May 1997. The Conservative Party, led by John Major, had won the 1992 General Election with an absolute majority of 21 seats over all other parties. That majority was progressively whittled away through defections and by-elections defeats, the most notable of the latter including those in Newbury, SE Staffordshire and Wirral South, resulting in the eventual loss of the Major government’s majority in Parliament.

This time it could be really interesting with the SNP and UKIP possibly holding the balance of power with the other parties including the Green Party and the Northern Irish parties having some kind of say in matters. As you may have realised I’ve been a little quiet on the posting front recently this is because I too have been involved as I’ve been nominated as the Green Party candidate in the local city council elections. For the first time the people of my ward in Chelmsford will have an option when they vote other than Conservative, New Labour and Liberal Democrats. I doubt things will really change in this part of Essex, but at least I’m doing by bit in the quest for much needed change.

I voted at around 7.45 this morning and it was strange putting an X  by my own name. Now it’s the wait for the polls to close and then I’m off into town for the official count tomorrow. I hope for change in a big way, I hope for an end to this Tory led ‘Austerity Crusade’ and an end to two party politics. Why am I standing and voting for the Green Party ? Mainly because of the austerity but also because so much of “Green Essex” has been built on in the past couple of decades, especially around Chelmsford. At the same time I believe that these policies are the right ones.

Health: End to all types of NHS privatisation and promotion of tobacco and alcohol products

Defence: Immediate and unconditional nuclear disarmament, limit military so adequate to ensure security “but no more”

Education: End performance-related pay, abolish SATS, and raise school starting age to six

Housing: Build 500,000 social rented homes by 2020 and scrap Right to Buy

Welfare: Citizens’ Income of £72 a week paid whether someone is in work or not, ban zero-hours contracts and scrap welfare cap

Energy: Insulation for all, investment in renewable energy, and ruling out nuclear and gas power

EU Referendum: Referendum on membership is backed by the party

Transport: Cut rail fares by 10% and spend £30 a head on walking and cycling measures

Also too I am a lover of nature and of things green and believe the natural world needs taking care of as sights like these cannot be man made.

The Melancholy days of Winter

 

“The Melancholy days have come the saddest of the year,of wailing winds and naked woods and meadows brown and sere”  “Heaped in the hollows of the grove the autumn leaves lie dead,they rustle to the eddying gust and to the rabbit’s tread” “Where are the flowers the fair young flowers that lately sprang and stood In brighter light and softer air ,alas they all are in their graves the gentle race of flowers” – “Death of Flowers” by William Cullen Bryant c  1832 (edited)

Yes its winter it’s dull overcast cold and wet and many days are lost just staying inside in the gloom,mainly watching TV or listening to music. Christmas brought forth a new turntable from my beloved xx allowing me to play my much treasured LP’s, as vinyl makes a comeback in our household. I also had vouchers from a local camera shop in town, which has allowed me to add to my camera collection as I popped in,just before new year and bought a Canon EOS 1200D.

  

Photography is a great creative passion of mine, as I neither can paint,write poetry or even play music. As I mentioned in a December post, I produce a calendar or have for the last two years, which uses some of my best shots, from my growing portfolio. I love taking photos and also love using many to illustrate the various topics mentioned on this blog. Also i hope it creates a diversity that one topic blogs lack.

l take allsorts of photos from wildlife,architecture,landscapes,nature,historical and of course nudes too.I hope I capture photos with a character and depth and also give an insight of what it’s like living in England today. My nature photos try to give a sense of the change in seasons,hopefully these give a sense of what it’s like to enjoy life…..natures way.

In winter every living thing (including humans) adapts to enable it to cope with its own particular harsh environment, factors such as the air, water, soil, light and temperature. Depending on what sort of habitat it lives in, an animal or plant may have to adjust itself to changes in its environment. The most obvious changes are those of lengthening and shortening of daylight hours, and increasing and decreasing temperature. This is what happens when autumn turns into winter.

Many plants and animals live in climates where the temperature never drops too low (as here in Britain), so they don’t have to worry about surviving extreme cold. Some animals avoid the cold of winter by migrating to warmer climates. Those animals and plants that live in permanently cold areas (such as polar regions) however, need special adaptations which allow them to survive in their harsh environment.

This time of year it’s difficult to get too excited and even harder to get that many delightful shots of anything,as many days in January and February are overcast and miserable. Therefore it’s so important to me, to get out when the days dawn bright and sunny,if a little chilly. I hope that my new camera will enable me to take time delay shots and maybe too many of the night sky, first though I’ll have to read the instruction booklet in full thoroughly.

Hopefully I’ll be able to get many new photos this year and also hopefully too a job. The best part of four years out of work is a long time, but i have had spells looking,its just so difficult to find a job in this part of the world at 51.I’d like a job with some kind of creativity but will probably have to make do with just any job.

I have a photo portfolio running into many thousands and here in this post I’ll display just a few hope that you like them.My posts and my blogs are created with the purpose to maybe enlighten others to the different courses life can take you. It is also produced with the creative freedom of choice that most parts of the world have. Some don’t unfortunately and this is something that has to change. As a result I have decided to dedicate this post to the victims of the Charlie Hebdo tragedy in Paris on 7th January and the shooting in Paris on the 8th.