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TheTamshee: was strolling the river bank at Mertoun bridge / weir when this colourful Grey Wagtail hopped over the cobbles and posed for a few close up shots. Check out Here for more shots of this energetic little bird, always on the move; frantically bobbing, ducking and dashing about while searching for tasty insects.
TheTamshee: was travelling home from a afternoon at Bemersyde Moss nature reserve when the early evening sunset over the distant Eildon Hills caught my attention. The light trails from the passing traffic adds an interesting lead-In to the "flaming trees"
TheTamshee: spent some time circum-navigating Duart Castle or ( Caisteal Dhubhairt ) on the majestic Isle Of Mull. The castle dates back to the 13th century and was the seat of Clan MacLean This oddly shaped fortress was used as a location in the 1999 film Entrapment, starring Sean Connery who has MacLean ancestry on his mother's side.
TheTamshee: was on the shoreline at Loch Spelve, Croggan as the sun was rising. The plan for the morning was to capture the moody warm glow as the sun broke the horizon then scan the calm water and kelp shoreline in search of the Sea Otters that I've observed on previous visits to this magestic place.
TheTamshee: says that it's not only red deer that roam the lush moors of Mull. These shots of Fallow Deer Stag & Hinds were taken while passing the old school house on the road to Loch Buie. They tend to be skitish and will not tolerate people getting to close but patience and a stealthy approach can be rewarded with some descent photographs.
TheTamshee: was well chuffed with these Common Buzzard photos because it is notoriously difficult to capture these raptors at close range and get some detail. Typically they will sense danger and fly off with that slow deliberate wing motion and take up a new perch on the next telegraph pole. Check out this Link for more photography from the Isle Of Mull.
TheTamshee: travelled to Oban and caught the Isle Of Mull ferry to Craignure. This westerly Isle is one of the gems of scotland; with an abundance of wildlife and scenic landscapes. The weather over the first couple of days was rather blustery with little opportunity to spot the wild otters around the picturesque lochs of Spelve or Loch na Keil. On leaving the ferry my first destination was Grasspoint where you are very likely to see the Red Deer and at this time of the year the rutting seasons is apparent with stags breaking the morning tranquility with bellowing roars.
TheTamshee: noticed this Grey Heron standing on this fence across the river at Langholm while out cruising the countryside on the trusty Buell.
TheTamshee: tempts the Nuthatch with some nourishing peanuts. The sideways glance before flying off is just the moment to fire the trigger and capture this typical nuthatch pose.
TheTamshee: spotted this Grey Heron; stalking the brown trout in the river tweed at Melrose cauld. Check out www.allanbellphotography.com for more wading birds.
TheTamshee: spent some time observing this Tufted Duck at a local reservoir. This medium-sized diving duck is smaller than a mallard; with black on the head, neck and breast. It has a small crest and a yellow eye. In flight it shows an obvious white stripe across the back of the wing.
TheTamshee:watched this Common Pied Oystercatcher pluck earthworms from the saturated grass and deliver them to the juvenile. They are unmistakable in flight, with white patches on the wings and tail, with black upperparts. Young birds are more brown, have a white neck collar and a duller bill.
The bill shape varies; oystercatchers with broad bill tips open molluscs by prising them apart or hammering through the shell, whereas pointed-bill birds dig up worms. Individual birds specialise in one technique or the other which they learn from their parents. Check out www.allanbellphotography.com for more photographs of these colourful characters.
TheTamshee & Family spent some quality time in Callander and the surrounding Trossocks in search of wildlife. This red deer was spotted strolling the lush meadow grass running parallel to the gart caravan park.
TheTamshee: spent a few hours at Melrose Cauld which is just upstream from the Chain Bridge. No Otters; but the Grey Heron was very active with good light giving the opportunity to capture the steely stare in that beady eye. Check out this Link for full photo series.
TheTamshee: was fortunate enough to get permission from Ian & Jenny Stark to tracked the brown hares up the drive @ Greenhill. This gives me the opportunity to get the sun behind the lense while observing the behaviour of these charming scundrels of the arable pasture. Check out AllanBellPhotography for more photo's of these beautiful creatures.
TheTamshee: spent a few hours in the company of falconar Mohammed Soliman; the opportunity to photograph captive birds of prey at close quarters gave me the chance to practice various in camera settings. The lighting was tricky due to the forest location at Jedforest Deer Park. Check out this link for more Owl Photography.
TheTamshee: has finally tracked down and been able to get close enough to a family of hares enjoying the warmth on their backs as they laze in lush border pasture. Today I will be opening up my new photography website ( www.allanbellphotography.com/index.php) to the general public. If you would like to post comments or make enquiries then please contact. E-mail enquiries@allanbellphotography.com
TheTamshee & wildlife detective Pol; visited Jedforest Deer Park in the scottish borders. The heavy rain hampered the afternoon raptor display but getting close to the male Steppe Eagle was awesome. These close up shots of the head with the distinctive white marking on the beak are a stark reminder that this raptors powerful beak will cause serious damage to it's chosen prey. Looking forward to returning for my "Eagle Experience" and some falconry tutoring.
TheTamshee: enjoyed a fantastic morning sailing on board the Brigadoon from Portree harbour to view the wildlife along the rugged Isle Of Skye coast line. The highlight of this trip was to see the magnificient White Tailed Eagle swopping low over the sea and taking a reasonably sized pollock from surface while being harassed by the ever present herring gulls.
TheTamshee: clan visited Blair Drummond to check out Alex The Vulture. This Ruppell Griffon Vulture, starred in the hollywood film Alexander featuring actor Colin Farrell.
TheTamshee: strolled the grounds of Dryden Horse riding school while the kids were having some tuition. This Common Buzzard was rather obliging; swooping low over the stables gave me an opportunity to get a descent shot with some detail.
TheTamshee & good lady travelled the picturesque B6399 road from Hawick towards Newcastleton; coming across Hermitage Castle along the way. The meandering route traces Liddel Water and gives good opportunities to site the Common Buzzard and on this occasion the colourful Eurasian Oystercatcher with the deep red eyeball with red legs and strong broad red bill used for smashing or prising open molluscs such as mussels or for finding earthworms. It is also evident that one of this pair has been ring tagged.
TheTamshee: travelled some distant miles to have the opportunity to photograph this majestic captive Golden Eagle displaying for a few keen photographers.The challenge was to capture the menace in the eagles steely eye's. Having the opportunity to get up close to this magnificient raptor; and experience the raw power in that hooked beak and pin sharp talons was a great experience. Check out Tamshee's Photography photostream HERE for more raptors and wildlife in and around the Scottish Highlands & Isles
TheTamshee:spent a bright but cold day in the company of a handful of Short Eared Owls on the east coast of scotland. The light conditions were favourable but it can be very tricky capturing these magnificent predators in full flight. They are constantly changing direction while scanning the grassy terrain for a tasty rodent. Check out Tamshee's Photography photostream / Flickr for more of the set
TheTamshee: spent some quality time strolling the tracks through Whinfell Forest in search of the ever exploring Red Squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) they are a species of tree squirrel which are thriving among the pine trees in this region of the lake district. The red squirrel is an arboreal, omnivorous rodent whose numbers have decreased drastically in recent years, in part because of the introduction of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) Check out Tamshee's Photography / Flickr photostream for more sets. Enjoy!!http://www.flickr.com/photos/63793845@N06/sets/
TheTamshee's: Elegant Grey Heron has plumage that is largely grey over the upper body, and off-white below. The adults have a white head with a broad black supercilium and slender crest, while immatures have a dull grey head. It has a powerful, pinkish / yellow / orange bill, which is brighter in breeding adults. It has a slow motion flight, with its long neck retracted into a S-like shape. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes the grey heron from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks. The call is a loud croaking!! but on my many sighting they tend to be silent and motionless.
TheTamshee:watched this Common Pied Oystercatcher pluck earthworms from the saturated grass and deliver them to the juvenile. They are unmistakable in flight, with white patches on the wings and tail, with black upperparts. Young birds are more brown, have a white neck collar and a duller bill.
