Just for a Change

Before I set out on my journey photographing wild birds and animals, I spent about a year visiting various zoos around the UK. I still enjoy a visit to a zoo with the camera and although the subject is captive there is still a fair degree of skill required in dealing with the challenges of mesh, reflective glass and awkward backgrounds. I have rounded up a very small selection of zoo shots into this compliation. I will start with a couple of black and white images.

Elephants enjoying a bath at Chester Zoo
From Tycross Zoo, the incredible Bonobos, the gentle chimpanze.
and LangurMoving on to some more colourful shots, also from Tycross a 'smiling' (or more likely threat posture) from a Langur.
Asiatic lion at Chester Zoo The elusive (its usually asleep in a holly bush) Pallas's Cat at Edinburgh Zoo

Also from Edinburgh, the steely stare of a Painted Hunting Dog. I have a whole series of shots of the pack feeding of a deer carcass but thought I wouldn't show them due to their graphic nature.
Edinburgh Zoo also holds the last captive Polar bear in the Uk, known as 'Mercedes'To finish off and my favourite Komodo Dragon photo with the dripping toxic saliva!!!

Reed Bunting

I really find myself drawn to photographing reed bunting as they are very attractive birds with all their shades of brown and black. I was looking back through my images from last year and realised I had very few shots of them in their reedbed habitat, and so decided to rectify the situation. Birds in reedbeds are always tricky and it can be difficult to get a clear shot. Here are a selection of the images.

and a couple of shots off the reeds.

I only managed one shot of a female on the reeds so will have to return and try and get some more, if I can fit it in now the spring migrants are starting to appear.

The Low Down

A few post back I mentioned that I was putting togther a ground pod to take low level shots of birds. Bascially I was looking for a support to which I could attach my Wimberley head. One Tefal frying pan, a suitably sized stainless steel bolt, two tap washers and two furniture floor protector cups and it was made.

So armed with the 'Sand Pan' as it is affectionately now known and some very old clothes as I would be lying flat on the ground, I headed down to my local beach to try for some Sanderling. It performed very well and here are a selection of the resulting shots. The low angle creates a nice effect on both background and foreground and generally creates a pleasing composition with well isolated subject.

First a practice shot on a passing turnstoneand then on to some Sanderling

The 'pan' performed well and will make a useful and low cost addition to my kit.

Spring Hares

I have been spending some time with the local brown hares recently, mainly to try and get some 'boxing shots'. I came close the other day but still not quite there. The recent cold snap of weather has not helped my quest as it has reduced their activity. While waiting I have been taking a few photos of them going about their daily business.

Ready for lift-off

and to finish off the post the closest I have come to some boxing action. The hare in the foreground was just not interested by the bouncing around and taunting to box of the other hare behind.

Return to the Wetland Centre

I was recently back down in London and ahd some free time to pay a brief return visit to the London Wetland Centre. When I arrived it was quiet on the wild bird side of things so I decided to spend a bit of time with some of the captive waterfowl collection.

Long-tailed duck

Goldeneye
Smew

and a couple of the captive birds bathing.

Having had my fill of the captive birds I decided to move on to try and find some wild birds.

Feeding coot Tufted duck

Gadwall ShovelerLittle grebe in breeding plumage

Taking another dive To finish off I decided to have another go at the Ring-necked parakeets
As I was leaving I got up really close to a parakeet on a feeder.

and so decided to take the opportunity to take a close-up head shot.

Richmond Deer

I was down in London last week and at the end of the day as the sun was sinking I popped in to Richmond Park to check it out for the first time. The deer are basically allowed to get on with it in this huge openspace except for some selective annual culling to keep the heards balanced. The main purpose of the visit was to have a look around for an autumn visit when the deer are in rut.

I found two big groups of deer. First up some fallow deer.

A couple of stags having a practice rut.As time was limited before sun down I thought I would quickly move on to the red deer. I find it impressive that large wild herds of these majestic mammals can be found so close to the centre of London.

Some of the stags are amongst the largest I have encountered.
This young stag boldly squared up to be so I thought it wise to make a quiet retreat as it was an uneven contest given my lack of antlers.

On the way back to car I found this ring-necked parakeet, which are now very common in the west end of London, checking out a potential nesting site.

I look foward to return visit to Richmond Park and just hope for some atmospheric weather and light conditions during my autumn visit for the rut.