tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49791081140831975582024-03-19T08:48:28.359+00:00MIKE ATTWOOD LRPSMike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.comBlogger305125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-67983403490947369222024-03-17T23:38:00.004+00:002024-03-18T09:15:46.687+00:00White Red KiteThese 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 Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-22463479950920803492024-03-06T23:53:00.000+00:002024-03-06T23:53:15.952+00:00PeregrineBefore 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 Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-15498777800118620032024-02-29T23:35:00.000+00:002024-02-29T23:35:11.118+00:00This is how it all endedWell 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. Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-19815301700813041612024-02-27T17:34:00.000+00:002024-02-27T17:34:25.596+00:00Friendly peregrinesI 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. Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-31468699978857405992024-02-15T00:08:00.001+00:002024-02-15T00:08:46.408+00:00Peregrines at playAlthough 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 Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-82540318465772089632024-02-07T23:45:00.001+00:002024-02-07T23:45:17.002+00:00Peregrine nestAs I promised here is some more nest shots. As you can see the youngsters were quite happy with my presence.This pair are from an earlier brood of a previous year.The youngsters would wander around the nest ledge the other side of the ravine from me.One visit Dad landed just a few metres behind me on my side of the ravine I grabbed this shot before he realised I was there.They often Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-79741621856109160832024-02-06T00:02:00.001+00:002024-02-06T00:06:30.126+00:00Welsh peregrinesHaving made many trips to Wales over about 25 years I learned of many nest sites. This was my favourite hidden in the Elan valley. A river runs through a deep gulley in the side of a mountain and on one side was a nest. It was possible to get within 20m across the river, ideal for the camera. The birds soon got used to my presence and enabled me to get good pictures.I spent many hours watching Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-29028321825901329122024-02-03T00:02:00.000+00:002024-02-03T00:02:48.303+00:00Chichester CathedralSelection of perches favoured by the peregrines of Chichester Cathedral.They can be seen clearly during daylight hoursThe courtyards are open to the public so photography is unlimited.Visitors are most welcome and one can sit and enjoy a cuppa whilst watching the birds.Well worth a visit even on a rainy day. Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-13880215822134793622024-01-29T23:44:00.000+00:002024-01-29T23:44:52.225+00:00Peregrine familyMum and Dad happily sitting together on their favourite branch high on the edge of the quarry.Dad off on a hunting trip.All at peace and enjoying the sunshine.Dad deep in thought. Dad checking their nest site which isn't that high up the quarry walls.He often perches much lower nearer to my camera. Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-6512639827466301622024-01-20T00:09:00.000+00:002024-01-20T00:09:38.276+00:00My peregrine patchThe peregrines have lived in my area for many years. I knew of the Chichester birds but I discovered from where they originated and found the site occupied by a group. It is in a disused quarry not far from my home.Most of these photo's were taken from inside the car which at my age is a huge advantage to someone of my age.Mum and Dad enjoying the trees which surround the quarry.The parents Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-86219868923080509082024-01-18T23:59:00.003+00:002024-01-18T23:59:35.848+00:00Peregrine FalconWhen I moved to my village over 10 years ago I discovered to my amazement that a family of peregrine falcons lived nearby. It did not take me long to locate the nesting site.The site is perfect for photography. The nest is high on a cliff face of a quarry with excellent access.Here is a couple of youngsters playing. I never did find out what Dad brought back to the nest.Because of the Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-21510337260973530932024-01-07T23:05:00.000+00:002024-01-07T23:05:07.025+00:00Red Kites Just a small selection of red kites from the hundreds I have taken over the last 25 years. All were taken in the Elan valley. Manty of the birds carry wing tags showing markings that identify the individual.Red Kites are not raptors but they are meat eaters. Only clearing up the remains of dead creatures. They are natural to this country but they treated by people as killersMike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-17665074639710120172024-01-03T00:12:00.003+00:002024-01-03T00:12:48.240+00:00Past times The weather has been very bad for some time and it has affected the visits from my wild life friends.They are still coming but for some reason not until the early hours of the morning. So here are some older pictures of them.This badger I discovered in the woods at the back of my house. His family are occasional visitors.In my younger days when I went walking with my camera I had the Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-91802787146441054842023-12-25T00:02:00.000+00:002023-12-25T00:02:51.536+00:00Christmas Greetings to you all Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-39620389651244658192023-12-14T00:06:00.001+00:002023-12-14T00:08:31.375+00:00White KiteI spent many years traveling to the Elan valleys in Wales to practice my photography. I made some great friends there spent many a week over the years collecting my photo's. A white kite is not another species but a bird that hasn't developed a red pigment to colour its feathers so it remains white. I have only come across four birds of this nature in the past thirty years. It does occur in Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-48527901416121009402023-12-10T00:13:00.000+00:002023-12-10T00:13:57.793+00:00My secret fox haven This is a selection of pictures taken at one of my locations of a few years ago. I am displaying these as it beyond my capabilities to venture out because of my age (86) and abilities.They are all wild foxes and live in a corner of a private woodland where the owner does not allow the general public access. He loves animals as much as I do. So I vowed to keep the location a secret. TheMike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-16622854454294828632023-11-01T23:51:00.000+00:002023-11-01T23:51:17.530+00:00Thankyou FriendsI intend to carry on my friendship with the animals in my garden as long as I can Thankyou for the support you have shown, there is not enough room to show everybody's names. The support shown by local society's is enough for me.Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-86937538936301958842023-11-01T00:07:00.000+00:002023-11-01T00:07:23.619+00:00ProblemsI have learned that some folk classify foxes as vermin and object to me feeding them. I have said this before that when I moved here 11 years ago we discovered the area was infested with rats. They could be seen running about the gardens in broad daylight. Neighbours contacted a local contractor who for a fee said he could get rid of them. He failed after several attempts so I introduced Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-38448187467314907812023-10-05T00:03:00.003+01:002023-10-05T00:03:59.439+01:00My Foxes My foxes are now visiting me every night for their supper. Often they are sitting outside my window waiting for my room light to switch on.This one is Sue named after a friend who recently passed away. She loved foxes.I talk to them through my open window and they are quite happy to sit and listen.Sue would rather sit, she appears to enjoy my company and will often stay after all the food Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-83547884856251923532023-10-02T00:35:00.004+01:002023-10-02T00:35:36.334+01:00Waiting for supperThis is my favourite fox, I call her Sue in memory of a good friend who looked after us when we visited our local Costa coffee shop. It is a lovely animal, waits outside my window and I talk to her. She will sit quietly while I photograph her.Here she is saying thankyou with a biscuit in her mouth. She is only about 1 metre from me and often will just come and sit for company. She comes to visit Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-72420657190188342712023-09-28T00:11:00.000+01:002023-09-28T00:11:16.712+01:00Red FoxIn my younger days when I was more active I used to visit places that were not frequented by humans and animals did not fear you. I often found that sitting quietly in a secluded spot a wild animal would approach because it did not know what you were. This has happened several times during my long life.This picture is of a young fox that had probably never seen a man before. It was less than a Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-72899428228034070842023-09-13T00:31:00.000+01:002023-09-13T00:31:55.651+01:00BadgersI am trying to encourage the badgers back into my garden. They used to join the foxes for a evening meal. Since a neighbour got himself a bad tempered dog they have stayed away.This was in a friends garden on his patio. It was a friendly animal and came within a metre of me, and totally ignored me.This was on our local nature reserve when I lived in Horsham. They were quite used to camera Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-50630675164281515712023-09-06T23:43:00.003+01:002023-09-06T23:43:56.382+01:00Wonderful break but disaster.I had a wonderful break on Hayling Island with a couple of good friends. I had never been looked after so well. Walking is getting harder each day so they got a wheelchair for me so I could get involved in everything. My only failure was my photography. An electrical fault which I managed to rectify but too late to use meant no pictures. The annoying thing was I had left a lot of spares behind soMike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-6046495422518700212023-08-24T23:26:00.000+01:002023-08-24T23:26:16.103+01:00Blogging break.I am saying goodbye to the foxes for a couple of days while I take a little holiday. A couple of good friends are taking Jacque and myself down to the coast for a break. I am taking a camera with me as I understand there will be plenty of wildlife for me, so the theme of my blog will change a bit. Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979108114083197558.post-14983921588077137782023-08-15T18:11:00.002+01:002023-08-15T18:11:56.503+01:00When the foxes feed When the foxes feed there is always one who would rather sit and watch and sometimes even have a little nap. I think it just likes its photo taken. It is about 2metres from the camera when this was taken.Mike Attwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17314216249222074615noreply@blogger.com6