Peregrine

 Over the past 10 years I have photographed many peregrine falcons at their nest sites. Most were taken in Wales under licence(different in England). They were sites that were unbelievably easy to get to. One site was the other side of a ravine which put the nest at a mere 20metres away.

 The youngsters got quite used to me being so close and carry on undisturbed.

 Often sitting in striking poses, I am sure entirely for my benifit.

 The male I got to know so well that he would totally ignore my presence.

The nest that I have today in Sussex is a lot further away from the camera. I am hoping that I will be able to get closer but at my age I am well past climbing up cliff faces.

Mum peregrine

With such a beautiful sunny day today I thought we could take a drive into the country and find somewhere nice for a spot of lunch. Having achieved this and on our way home we stopped to see if there was any peregrine activity. Not activity as such but there was mum sitting on her favourite patch of grass sunning herself, by the debris scattered around it looked as though she had just had lunch too. As usual this shot was taken from the drivers seat of the car.

Peregrine check

With the sunshine of today I took a drive round all my usual haunts but as the norm I found nothing. I ended up at the peregrine spot and there they were sitting on the cliff face and by the debris around their feet (mostly feathers) I imagined they had just had a large meal of wood pigeon. My access to the site is limited at this time of the year so this was the best shot that I could get. Still, it is nice to know that they are together and soon I shall see a bit more activity.

1st Foray of 2018

I know its not much to shout about but over the last year I havn't had much time to myself and when I had the weather was against me. Today the sun shone and I had an hour to myself so I took a little trip down to see if the peregrines were about. No such luck, the fields were flooded after the recent storms and it was very quiet.

Sitting quietly in the car waiting for something to happen just about to nod off when a heron decided to emerge from the reeds. With the wind still strong I really didn't expect to see much. It was the first time that I had seen this field flooded. Not much but it made my day.

2017 Not a good year

 On the whole I was disapointed with my photography during '17. Family illness and my age became a bit of a handicap and I wasn't able to get about as much as I used to. Knowing spots where I could find old friends meant that I could sit in the car and hang the camera out of the window. I have been amazed what happens in a quiet spot on the side of the road. This badger is fed by the occupants of a cottage just a few yards off the carriage way and does not seem to mind snuffling around my car.

This barn owl was around quite a bit at the beginning of the year but was chased off a lot by the young peregrines when they became airworthy.

Like the badger this fox was quite happy as long as I stayed in the car.

 The bullfinch was photographed through my living room window. A rare visitor never to be seen again.

 Great grey shrike, first sighting in my life, again photographed from the drivers seat in my car. Ten minutes later it had gone.

The peregrines were the highlight as far as I was concerned, always entertaining. Always around and  doing something. This is one of the four youngsters bred this year just before he left to make his own way in the world. I never go anywhere without a camera.