Wildlife Photography across the Water: bird feed

Saturday, 27 November 2010

Winter has definitely arrived in the UK

We woke up to find a small covering of snow here in Stratford upon Avon today. The forecast has been variable, and the last time I looked at the Met we weren't due any here.

Now it is nowhere like that being experienced in the North East, where up to 35cm or 14 inches has been falling. But our temperatures are very cold, and have been for a few days now. The two ponds and the reflection pool have frozen solid - so my first job this morning was to get out there, break the ice, lift the lumps away and make sure there was clear water available. Then it was case of replenish the feeders, and put some surface food down too.

With these very cold temperatures, it is vital that we make water available for the birds. So please even if you don't have a pond, find some suitable container to put out for the birds - but make sure you keep it clear and you will probably have to re-do it each day.

Already, we have seen a shift of species activity with a huge increase in Chaffinches as they come in from the surrounding fields to readily available garden food.

Martin

Update: Sunday morning - seriously cold overnight - broke the ice on pond this moninng to clear some free water. Frozen solid again two hours later. Will need to keep on top of this now. Even more Chaffinch in this morning, plus first of the winter Redwings in town and in the adjacent gardens

Saturday, 10 January 2009

News - Weather Watch

Just a quick note that I am sure you are all aware of, but if not.

With the 'big freeze' here in the UK - OK so it's all relative to the rest of the world, please make sure you keep water sources available for the wildlife in your garden. It is vital for their well being and very existence. All four water sources in our garden are freezing every night, so first thing one of us is out there, breaking ice and filling the reflective pool with hot water.

Not only do the animals need to drink a little, but equally importantly the birds have to bathe to keep their feathers in good order.

So check your gardens and if you can put some water out, and keep it free of ice you will be doing a good thing.

On the food front, sunflower hearts are a real power source, and the birds here are getting through a sackful every couple of weeks - but then we are getting hundreds of birds in the garden throughout the day.

If you have any unusual sightings or rare species in your garden, why not let us know on here.

Check back on the blog later today - we will be starting off the first in the Long Lens series

Martin

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.