Wildlife Photography across the Water: woodland trust

Saturday, 1 May 2010

Woodland Images

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I said I would share some of my images from my woodland walk and talk about Bluebells.

The first three images are just a few test shot/record images from the new 7D. I wanted to get a few shots done to test the AF on static images, along with some ordinary everyday images so I could pixel peep the results I was getting, so why not use it at the same time as a nice evening walk out in the woods.

There were plenty of bluebells coming up but they are about a week away from their best here in the Midlands. So if you have some good Bluebells woods near you, ours are about a week off their best, so judge your self for your own areas, if you have them, based on that. Certainly one of the best Bluebell places in Warwickshire is advertising it's Bluebell walks for next weekend.

The Wild Primroses are at their best now, with some on the open rides going over through lack of rain. but in the woods they are now looking beautiful. There were a few Wood Anemones, but not many at this particular wood, but there are plenty at another location where I will get some images from this weekend.

The Yellow Archangel was also showing in one small, very dark location, so I had to resort to popping a little fill flash, which tends to make for a bit of an unbalanced exposure. Yellow Archangel is from the nettle family, and sports these beautiful yellow flowers.

Finally this one is from the garden, known as Cuckoo Pint or Lords and Ladies. I mentioned a few blogs back that these were coming up, and I am pleased they have survuved the lcak of rain throughout April. The centre stem will remain and the surrunding leaves will drop away soon. The centre stem will then bear a cluster of bright orange to red berries.

This was taken with a 5D and the Canon 180 macro. Yes you read that right a 5D - the old one not the new one.

I have acquired one of these for a while. I had a real hankering to get back to using full frame. Not being able to get my hands on the 5Dmk2, I have got the use of this one for a while. Having had a 5D and got rid of it a couple of years ago, I do miss the full frame. Back to a measly old 12MP, it does have lovely smooth files. Very retro in terms of the total lack of features that I am now used to with the 1Dmk111 and 7D's. But I have to say it is still a bloody good camera.

Martin

Saturday, 3 October 2009

News - A Mystery solved

Through the later part of the summer and into early Autumn I have noticed many of the Horse Chestnut trees going brown very early - or at least much earlier in the year than I am generally used to seeing during my travels.

It seemed sporadic and inconsistent across the trees though.

Well I solved the mystery a couple of days ago when I found this story from The Woodland Trust.

It seems that there is a reason and it is a pesky little import known as a Leaf Miner, which appears to be making rapid progress across Europe.

The Horse Chestnut is one of the target species that is being tracked by The Woodland Trust, so if you want to help with his programme in the future, here is the link to Natures Calendar.

Let us know if you are already reporting.

Finally, another thing I have recently seen a lot of is dead Mink at the roadside. Know given that this is another dreadful import that has devastating impacts on our indigenous wildlife, I am not at all saddened by this, but it has been interesting to note that there have been so many over a period of a few weeks. I guess it is that time of the year where they go into dispersal, and subsequently become casualties on possibly unfamiliar surroundings.

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.