Crowle Moor Nature Reserve 30-7-11

A great few hours there today with Rich and Dave Hutton. The horse-flies were a pain but werent biting too much although Dave got bitten once :(
I was chuffed to spot an emerging Migrant Hawker, and we kept an eye on it as it dried out and eventually flew off. Always a delight and a privilege to observe :)
We also had a few Black Darters, Brown Hawkers, Common Darters, Emerald Damselflies etc.
The weather was kind with a few sunny spells and it got very warm and sticky especially as we were all wearing jeans and long sleeves tops to reduce the chance of the Clegs biting! Also I had gaiters on as on previous visits some areas of the reserve were boggy and wet but not a problem with that today!
A very enjoyable day and thanks again to Dave for picking us up and taking us there. A few photos from the visit can be seen  on my website at
http://mandywest.zenfolio.com/

New Website

I am in the process of setting up a website to showcase my best photographs. I shall still continue to post on this site too!
The link for the new website is : http://mandywest.zenfolio.com/

Swallows 24-7-11

Sparrowhawk

Nice to see these local Swallows today obviously still in breeding mode :) The Sparrowhawk made a couple of fly bys also.

Waters Edge CP Wildlife Day 24-7-11

Barn Owl

A very sleepy Eagle Owl

Harris Hawk

Kestrel

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Tawny Owl

A few photos from the Falconry display - all birds are captive bred

Mull Birds

Bullfinch

Common Sandpiper

Goosander

Juvenile Whinchat

Linnet

Meadow Pipit

Oystercatcher

Ringed Plover

Spotted Flycatcher

Sparrowhawk

Treecreeper

Juvenile Wheatear

Juvenile Wren

Just a selection of avian photos, I wish I could have posted some nice White Tailed Eagle shots but although we had great views, it was always when skies were cloudy, so no good shots, only record shots. As it is such a magnificent bird and justifies being shown in a fabulous photo, I cant bring myself to post rubbish shots! Theres always next year, shall definately return there, no  doubt about that!

Mull Landscapes

Such a beautiful island :) I took many photos, here are just a few

"The Enchanted Wood" aka our base in Mull

What a delightful place!! It was so quiet that sometime you could hear a pin drop, thats if the Oystercatchers actually stopped calling, which wasnt very often!!
We had "Staffa Lodge", which in our opinion was the best of the three as we were at the end, next to the wood and so no one ever needs to walk past so much appreciated privacy was granted. The lodges are stylish and well equipped and the surroundings absolutely gorgeous. The website for Hideaway Lodges is http://www.hideawaylodges.co.uk/

Sun Bathing Chaffinch

Fallow Deer (taken very early one morning in the rain!)

Fallow Deer

Staffa Lodge - our home for the week

Goosander (female)

Great Tit

Greenfinch

Hare

Wood Mouse

Treecreeper

Vole

The woods and garden area are so full of engaging and beautiful wildlife with the bonus of the River Ba running along the bottom and a great view over Loch Na Keal. The feeders by the lodge were well used by the local birdlife and also a haven for small mammals(Wood Mouse, Vole and Shrew) making the most of the discarded seed and nuts. Tawny Owls were heard regularly, a pair of Treecreeper were usually around, as well as Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Siskins and all the usual garden birds. The crystal clear River Ba has Kingfisher, Dipper and lots of big Sea Trout and the like. A lowland Mountain Hare hung around and wasnt it the slightest bit bothered by us getting close to it for photos and most mornings (sometimes at 3am!) I had wonderful encounters with Fallow Deer. We shall miss it all so much! Here are a few shots of the lodge, gardens, wood, river , views and the adorable, varied wildlife that graced us with their presence :)