I was lucky to get this set as i only saw this hare coming towards me at the last minute. I caught movement in the corner of my eye and saw this one running straight towards me, because of the speed i found it difficult to keep focus and find putting the focus point on the head results in a sharp focus point back from the head along the body. there we are ! practice makes perfect.
Last weekend i spent a day in Hereford trying to get close to the Hares, the thinking behind this was that the crops had now been cut and the hares , which up to now had plenty of cover to hide in, would be a bit more exposed,
It also made getting close harder. I found the best way , was to stay hidden and rely on luck – it worked in the end . I’m hoping to get back there soon and the plan is to spend some time there in the snow – if it snows this year.Their Hearing is amazing ,this hare was grooming when i saw it , i was sat in a hedge and it altered its position so as its ear was facing me , and carried on grooming , each click of the camera produced a twitching ear.
After yesterday i thought i’d try again at getting close to the Wryneck at Newport wetlands , Nothing ventured – Nothing gained !
After a sweaty route march to the same area close to Salt marsh Lane i got into position along with one or two others , the wryneck was working its way along the edge of the path slowly moving further away from our position – its always the same ! after an hour the others left and the Wryneck flitted into some trees near the path , appearing later on in the Hawthorn right next to me , Result ! Not knowing if i should wait for it to land on the path or just take my chances with it in the tree , i went for the tree option hoping it didn’t disappear while i move the lens around. as it was after these shots it moved further up the path, Phew !!
On the spur of the moment , i grabbed the camera and went down to the Newport Wetlands Center , at 4-30 pm the place was deserted with only two other peaple to be seen , the amount of Dragonflies there was amazing , i don’t think i’ve seen so many in years.
Bird life was a bit slow but on walking from the East hide along the shore line path a Wryneck was searching for food along the margins of the path in front of me , it was the first time i’d ever seen one ! i always thought they were bigger. Now i Know . It seemed unworried by my presence working its way along the path edge looking for insects , occasionally stopping to look at me , checking i wasn’t getting too close.
Over the last few years Caerphilly Countryside service have been running photographic walks in conjunction with Photographer Tim Collier , The walk Last Sunday ( 18th ) was at Parc Cwm Darran near Deri ( not the one in Northern Ireland !! ) and the surrounding countryside , it was guided by Countryside Ranger James Bower who managed to bring back the same number of walkers that started in the morning !
I’ve driven most of the roads in that area but its not untill you get out and start walking that you realise how much you can’t see from the car window, Habitat ranged from the lake at the park through old oak woodland , open moor and old railway tracks now surfaced and part of the National Cycle path network. The buddleia on these pathways was alive with Butterflies , Large Whites , Peacock , Comma , and Red Admiral were to name a few.
The Nature of Wales - Mostly !!
Welsh Wild Stuff 