News

In the last couple of weeks a small woodland hide has been built conveniently right outside Algy's Bintree Farmshop.



Squadrons of Long Tailed Tits, charms of Goldfinches, even a Treecreeper and Gt Spotted Woodpecker or two, have come calling on the many feeders we have put up. The feeders are full of Bintree birdseed so its testament both to the quality and assortment of the seed, sold from the farmshop, that so much bird diversity is being recorded.




Should you have interest in attending our photographic workshops please leave me a contact message and I will get back to you on latest dates and possibilities. As spring is now approaching we have lots of opportunities coming up for anyone wanting to add to their wildlife portfolio's or perhaps learning more creative ways to handle their cameras.



I will keep posting latest updates for those interested in joining me at any of the forth coming sessions

Norfolk it seems has missed out yet again on a snowy winter..an overnight sprinkling of the magic stuff lasted only for a few minutes a couple of weeks ago. I am therefore resigned to the fact that there will be no picturesque, festive, Christmas card scenes yet again and I am going to be more creative for Christmas 2016 card production.



But all is not lost in that we have at least the triumph of the seasonal snowdrop, pushing it's way through the boggy rather than frozen soil, to remind us that they are rather more dependable than the weather every year.



By closing one eye and maybe squinting with the other you may be fooled into thinking that the blended mass of the other flower blooms in the background is actually snow after all!

There's nothing quite so restorative as a walk along the North Norfolk coast in January. The cutting, cold wind, coming straight off the North Sea. The tangy taste of brine in the air helps to rejuvenate appetites lost, post festive fare. Colours are muted, soft one moment and harsh the next as the reflected light changes.

It's interesting to note that whilst garden and woodland birds are now looking resplendent in their winter colours, waders and gulls aren't really so colourful. In fact pale pastels and winter whites are their fashion palette flattering their slim profiles but further hardening the stare from those hard, glacial eyes.



Typical of any seafront, the local band of hoodlums queue and vie for the best spot on the seawall,usually near a litter bin but cunningly always where kind residents park their cars and throw them crumbs from their car windows.




Combining the body charges, the thrust and parry of beaks with balestra-esque ballet moves the gulls create the cadence of a worthy Corps a Corps musically in time with their painful, plaintive, ear piercing cries.



For my January muse I have tried to combine their toughness with some softness.. as ever its the paradox of nature that weaves it magic on me, please take time to look at my muse on the month gallery for more coastal bird images.

It's been a challenging, wet, windy and a muddy wellie end to the year.. but I'm taking cheer from the couple of lighter mornings I did manage to get out with my camera. I decided to end the year, using the photo's below to help convey how I think a lot of us must have been feeling!

Photo 1: I've just heard the forecast for the next two weeks..it doesn't sound good!


Photo 2: Is that a hint of a brighter times ahead or someone in a Christmas jumper?


Photo 3: I think I will relax and wait out for better times to come!


As ever with me it's a glass half full so hoping that it all comes together soon with better conditions and an easier trudge through the fields very soon!


Happy New Year to all!

I had the chance this month to revisit Pete Whieldon's Kingfisher hide in Otterbourne, Winchester. The last time I popped in for a few hours or so the Kingfishers were in their eclipse so not fully in the colourful splendour of perfect plumage.

This time however Mrs KF was looking in brilliant shape, properly plump and flirtatiously fluffy, glorious in her new colours.



She in fact glowed so wonderfully she warmed up the start to a cold wintery, November Sunday morning, perching on her favourite fishing perch just a few feet away from the hide.



I can thoroughly recommend time in Pete's hide that can be easily booked through his website: http://petewhieldonphotography.co.uk

Should there be any remote chance that Kingfishers don't float your boat then how about a

close up with Oakley.. Pete's cuddly Tawny Owl who will happily pose on a selection of natural props for a photo or two..

I got excited for at least a day when I saw that the weather was going to get colder thinking that the birds would return to the feeders in the garden.

It's certainly been too warm of late with so much food elsewhere for the usual flocks of finches and tits to come calling.



My all time record is 32 Goldfinches feeding at one time.. if you knew the size of my garden you'd appreciate that is quite a gathering! Currently the garden is being visited by a small group of 8 -9 regulars, a few Greenfinches and Chaffinches but still no sign of my Bullfinchs for the moment.



All the other regulars are swinging by along with the Coal Tits who are my favourite little birds, we've even had a few visits from a Great Spotted Woodpecker recently who has been feeding on my suet filled silver birch feeder.



It would be wonderful however for a few sharp frosts, a light snow flurry or two to get some festive photographs into the portfolio this year.

Following on from the "If you go down to the woods today" news updates I thought I'd do a Fallow follow up having spent a day with good light in North Norfolk photographing the seasonal rut.

I am a staunch believer that animals must come to me, not me chase them down. Even Deer roaming in parks seemingly accustomed to people, still require an element of stalking, being approached from down wind, and a concerted effort to blend in with the shrubbery etc.



Rutting was at it's peak on the last day of my annual visit. The fights were all at a distance and well into the middle of a wide open space, so initially, too far away for any photo opportunities.



When the main herd ran off to the furthest reaches of the Holkham Park a decision was made to break cover from the trees and venture out into open space. the aim was to photograph a single, resting Stag beneath a Sweet Chestnut Tree.



However, it was a little surprising when at least three pairs of Stags decided to bring the show for what became a personal, command performance. The decision to either stay put or run for the trees had to be made quickly but by staying, still, low and quiet, Philip, Julie & I were able to witness the raw determination and game play behind the struggle to be the dominant male at very close quarters.



The giggly girls and frolicking fawns didn't really take too much notice of the huffing, puffing and scuffling of the Stags. Preferring instead to wander at will, gather in gossiping groups and play the old tactical game of being hard to get!


More photos in the The Only Place is Norfolk; In the woods portfolio

I've just had amy annual day out with the Red Deer Rut in Richmond Park.

Not sure if I can ever get tired of watching those majestic stags parading and performing to the drumbeat of their hormones, although I guess there are only so many roaring stag shots one can have or look at!



I missed the wonderful weather and got a day and a half of rain.. not that it seemed to matter and in fact added a little something extra to the atmos!



The carpark Jackdaws at the very least were as grateful as ever of a few dried breadcrumbs back in the carpark.



More photos are in the gallery section under Muse of the Month October but I am looking forward to next year already

Inspired by the news post for August, entitled "Who ate all the pie, flies and slugs" I have developed a small range of cards entitled "A Frog for All Seasons"

With the genius talent of Sally, who has crafted some crazy seasonal hats onto my original frog picture, the following cards are currently being sold from Algy's Farm Shop in Bintree, Fakenham home of the original big fat frog!

All are suggested messages as the cards are blank for your own personalisation.

You are Under my Spell (Great for Halloween, Valentines Day, Anniversary, Birthday Card etc )



I've kissed a lot of princes, till I found you! (Great for Halloween, Valentines Day, Anniversary, Birthday Card etc)



A Frog is for life, not just for Christmas (Great for an alternative Christmas card this year)



And a generic card of the frog without a hat for anyone who has a need for a hop , skip and a jump type of personal message that they may need a card for!

The cards also come with a seasonal sticker to seal the envelope.

I've been out to a secret but local location photographing fungi and despite being eaten alive by aggressive woodland leaf-litter living things I have been having a great time.

It's a top year for Fly Algaric so far but they have all appeared much earlier than expected so more of them are in the Muse of the Month gallery for September rather than the anticipated November slot this year.



In fact 90 - 95 % of them are all ready gone over and although there are new ones coming through they may be now past their best. I could be one of the few people welcoming in the warm rain that is currently being forecast in the hope the fungi season will be extended.



I haven't yet identified all of the species I saw or photographed but I had some fun doing some blurry, abstract stuff as well as the usual shots you'd come to expect!

Thanks go to Simon Litten for accompanying me in the wilds of Norfolk,Brett Lewis who shared a lot of his " in the woods wisdom" with me and the talented Miss Dixie in Kent!

Autumn is truly on its way and a trip to the woods soon reveals nature's steady progress towards that season of mist and mellow fruitfulness, ripeness and maturity.



My favourite season of all seems to be about grouping.. nothing is ever on its own..be it, bird, animal,fungi or fruit. Of course it is the season for Fallow and Red Deer Rutting.. not much activity so far other than a lot of running around but pretty certain it won't be long before the woods are filled with the sound of baritone harmonies and the swash bucking of antlers.



Hoping to share more seasonal pictures in the next few weeks.

Knowing August is one of the tricky months for photographing wildlife when the birds aren't at their best & the animals are hiding after the harvest, I've taken to lifting stones and logs and even the odd traffic cone to find things that lurk beneath.



Over on Algy's farm where all manner of wildlife is fed and pampered the vegetable patch has been suffering from the very unwanted attentions of a slew of slugs. Fortunately nature has come to the rescue in the form of a defensive surge by the frogs who frequent the many ponds around the farm.



Our Common Frogs are looking rather gorgeous at the moment due to their high protein slug diet no doubt. Generously proportioned for sure,looking as though they have eaten all the pies and some, glossy and shiny, with a bounce as high as a house should you try to catch one.

Ever wanted to photograph a Kingfisher feet away from the the end of your lens or get a shot of a diving Kingfisher that somehow is missing from your portfolio!



If so I can heartily recommending booking a hide with Pete Whieldon who has now set up a magical wildlife oasis for all manner of birds, including Kingfishers and his own captive bred owls. (I've added a link to Pete's site on my link page. The Kingfishers literally come in every 40 minutes and you can almost set your alarm clock to their arrival.


The stars of the show are undoubtedly Hedwig (the Barn Owl) and Oakley (Tawny Owl) pictured below). You'd be hard pressed to find another two more passionate photographers who provide such fantastic customer service than Pete W and his right hand man, Peter Smith.


Hot cups of tea brought to you in the hide, perches changed on request and the opportunity to fill your boots or several memory cards with great images.. they really do spoil you!

A while back I had contact through my website from an artist in Australia who wished to licence one of my pictures, a Mallard Drake, to bring it to life in another medium by painting it.

Other than being very flattered by this request, I was also really impressed that Janet Luxton, the artist, was also seeking permissions and wishing to buy a licence from the Getty library where my image was being shared. Having heard so many stories lately from fellow photographers who have had their worked copied and never even acknowledged, let alone benefited by any royalty payment, it was extremely cheering news!

Since then Janet has kindly sent me an image of her final production and my mallard drake looks rather fabulous at 130 x 170cm size on Belgian linen.

Janet has asked me to help promote a homeland cause close to her heart that I have provided a link to below and again on the link page on my website. If there is anything you can do to help prevent the loss of yet another endangered species I am sure Janet and her team of conservationists would be thrilled to hear from you.

I'd love to think that one day any one of us could see a Kakapo in the wild!

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kakapo-hope-for-a-future#/story

One of my favourite evening, summer, sounds has to be the rustle and the snuffle of Hedgehogs rummaging amongst the shrubbery looking for worms and grubs.

Luring them in with peanuts proves to be very successful though and whilst I may have one or two nomadic visitors of my own I have been lucky enough to camp in a local garden and managed to get a few lucky shots!



You have to be pretty fleet of foot to get any chance of capturing them in natural behaviour..one whiff of your presence and they are off, doing a really great impression of Usain Bolt across the lawn. So often all I could snap was a clean pair of heels just as I got into position to take a shot!

Please take a look at Muse of the Month: Hedgehogs in the garden to see a few more pictures. Thanks to David & Brian for this opportunity!

Under dramatic skies and brilliant sunshine the harvest has started on the Winter Wheat fields across Norfolk.
It's always a race against time, will the fine weather last, will there be enough hours in the day to get the crop in?



Sadly the rain has stopped play this week so anxious days ahead now await for the skies to clear once again.

I have learnt several new facts about harvesting this year, thanks to spending many a hour or more on my favourite Bintree farm. Ideally, crops must contain have a water content of 15% or less when harvested or else a significant drying process has to go underway until the ideal is achieved.



For me there is nothing more hypnotic than watching a golden crop, ripening under the summer sun, rippling and swelling like an expanse of golden sea in the prevailing winds.
Once the wheat is in it's followed by the rape seed and then the barley.



So busy times ahead but once the crops are in we may at least get to see more than just a head of the charismatic and curious Roe Deer.



Who knows what else currently lurking amongst the stalks?

Nothing worthwhile comes easy..
I thought I was relatively nimble, I thought I had a good sense of balance..how wrong can you be.



Neil McIntyre soon showed me how boulders should be leaped, rock pools should be waded through and seaweed covered beaches silenced underfoot in order to stalk the allusive Scottish otter.



There were times when viewing a busy fishing otter through a camera was actually wrong.. much better to actually watch and soak up the incredible experience of being in the right place at the right time..albeit out of breath, a little bruised but with dignity attached!



I think next time I will need to get Otter fit if only to keep up with Neil!

I awoke to one of those magical, misty mornings, where despite lack of visibility the day promised to become sparkly and spankly, all in all just perfect for photographing butterflies!



It's all a matter of timing, as Mark Sissons of Natures Images explained in an effort to scurry me along to get to a perfect location for Studded Blue Butterflies. It doesn't take long for the sun to rise, the mist to lift and the focus of our early morning sorti to warm up and flutter about their business.



One of the smallest of the blue butterflies, the silver studded has become my latest favourite to photograph.

When Simon Litten told me about his new hare site just down the road from where I live, he said that the farmer described the area as being infested with hares.



Naturally I had high hopes of seeing a hare or two and I wasn't disappointed!



With the prospect of now being able to photograph Brown Hares all year round Simon is taking bookings on his own website and I can thoroughly recommend a day or two spent with these charismatic creatures.. and of course that includes Simon!

Please see the link on the link page to contact Simon directly for future workshop opportunities.

An opportunity to photograph Gt Spotted Woodpeckers within inches of my window could not be missed, especially as they posed so naturally for the camera



I think the combination of the sound of my camera shutter clicking and the mayhem of unpredictable weather, as in the title, Come what May, whether it be rain, sunshine or even hail all helped to create the slightly manic sequence of shots in this month's Muse of the Month offering.