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Sunday 17 March 2024

White Red Kite

These are pictures of a bird that you will not see very often. I spent near 20years travelling to Wales to photograph the red kites and I was only able to identify 4 birds.
It is a normal red kite but lacks a substance called melanin in its skin, this puts the red colour into its feathers so I am told. It has no physical defects or handicaps.
This lacking of colour make it into something spectacular when in flight. It is not rejected by normal red kites.
This picture was taken at Gigrin farm, which I visited many times during my younger years.
 

Wednesday 6 March 2024

Peregrine

Before Jacque and I ventured into Wales we worked in a friends Bird of Prey centre to gain a bit of knowledge of the birds that we were going to photograph. The birds shown are mainly peregrines.
You would be surprised at what you can learn by just handling the birds.
You really can get to know their ways and it is an experience that I will never forget. Jacque found a way of making friends with a peregrine chick.
Beautiful bird that my camera's will always be ready for.
 

Thursday 29 February 2024

This is how it all ended

Well you saw how it all started well this is how it all ended. Well almost, in fact later in the year I found the nest just a short distance away.
There were two youngsters in it. I watched them grow until the day they took to the wing.

A pair of handsome young peregrines. I only wish I was fit enough to visit the site this year.

 

Tuesday 27 February 2024

Friendly peregrines

I was watching a peregrine high in a tree when it was joined by another and to my surprise they became very friendly.
They started to make a lot of fuss of each other. 
I had witnessed the start of a pairing. they were two young birds that eventually mated and produced a family. I shall check in the next couple of weeks to see if they are still together.

This happened two years ago.


 

Thursday 15 February 2024

Peregrines at play

Although peregrines sit around much of the time when they move they become extremely active.
This one I  estimated to be doing about 80mph.
They love play fighting and are often seen scrapping in the air.
This one is for adults only.




 I have seen as many as five birds playing together. This activity can go on for hours.

Mike Attwood - Photographer

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About Me

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Evacuated during the second world war to a village in Yorkshire where I lived in the home of a good photographer for more than five years who taught me the basics and a great deal about nature. Well past retirement age I have been a wildlife photographer for more than 30 years. Red Kites have been my speciality for much of this period. I did spend several years snapping wheelchair athletes and organizing the British Road Race Championship. In the year 2000 I was awarded a distinction by the Royal Photographic Society for my portfolio on wheelchair athletes. Most of my pics are digital, using Sony cameras and Sigma lenses. I used to spend many weeks each year with friends in Wales which is close to the Elan Valleys where I got many of my raptor pics. I now get these pictures more closely to home, specially red kites and peregrines. I support my pension by selling my pics, cards, coasters, fridge magnets and key rings etc. at craft fairs, something I wish I had done much earlier in life. I give illustrated talks to clubs and societies on wildlife and other branches of photography that I have been involved in.