Wildlife Photography across the Water: Local Patch

Wednesday, 22 April 2009

Local Patch - Garden Update

Things are moving on well in the garden wildlife patch now.

Tadpoles are very active with the warmer weather now and a few are starting to sport rear legs now.

Water beetles (not sure what type yet - next study work is bug identification) and a lot of daphnia type pond life are also very active.

On the flower front, the first of the Cuckoo Pint or Lords and Ladies are up in the woodland patch. Ladies Purse has pretty much gone over now. A large yellow flower that looks a bit like Field Rape is out well now and is being feasted on its lower leaves. I believe this plant is Charlock. Will put some images up at the weekend to check with the more knowledgeable amongst you.

Clover and Vetch are growing well and I expect to see the first blooms soon.

It is certainly exciting trying to work out what is coming up when you are not sure what is in the mix. There are few bluebells showing as well, but I will take a trip to some local woods at the weekend to get some decent images of them

On the bird front, the first baby was seen yesterday - a very tame Robin fledgling that seemed to be managing very well on its own. Blackcap and Song Thrush song is loud and frequent.

The many house sparrows are gathering up nesting material (horse hair) that has been put out for them. Unfortunately, they do not seem the slightest bit interested in the lovely homes that I have put up for them.

Blackbirds, Wood Pigeon and Collared Dove are still very active. Increasing numbers of Goldfinch are now back here and the Long Tailed Tits are still showing well.

No signs of the Swifts yet, but I expect to see them early next month back here. Plenty of House Martins and Swallows passing through, but none are staying.

Martin

1 comment:

mark wood22 April 2009 at 21:24
Martin / Dave fantastic blog this is something to look back over time as to how nature wakes up, keep on posting!
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Bio's

David Courtenay, a self taught wildlife and nature photographer, has been capturing images for over 30 years. He has had a passion for wildlife since early childhood and remembers being glued to the television whenever Survival, Wildlife on One and other natural history documentaries were shown. In the 2006 he swapped his established career for the life of a wildlife photographer, such a move demands a measure of uncompromising passion and commitment.

David has travelled extensively throughout Europe as well as spending more than 7 months in India working with local guides and trackers in search of Bengal Tiger, Asian One horned Rhino and Asian Elephant. He has also photographed Wildlife in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Africa, Canada and America. Working closely with Conservation companies he tries to raise funds to help Wildlife that has been put on the endangered list by poaching and habitation loss

Martin Dyer has had a passion for avian wildlife since childhood, particularly raptors. Photography was also another keen interest and it was with the specific availability and control of the whole process that digital offers that Martin was then able to combine the two in 2003. Based in the UK, Martin is a regular visitor to Scotland, specifically the Isle of Mull to watch the Eagles resident there. Other trips to Europe and around the UK are usually part of Martin’s agenda in a typical year.

However, as a firm believer on making the most of the local patch, Martin has spent a lot of time and hard work creating a wildlife garden which is reaping the rewards with many new species and varieties of wildlife. A keen member of a number of wildlife photographic groups, Martin is keen to expand his portfolio into other areas of wildlife, and has already established a wide portfolio of images of fungi.