Monday 31 December 2012

Blogger Problem

Please bear with me, having massive problem getting blogger to work correctly...will get there!

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Local Kestrel Story

I recently observed and photographed a pair of Kestrels who have successfully raised 4 chicks locally. I was asked by a Spanish birding company "Birding Murcia" to contribute to their "Birders of the World" section of their website, with photographs/interview and story about the Kestrels.

The article can be seen here....

http://birdwatchingmurcia.wordpress.com/category/mandy-west/

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Back to Blogging

I have got a bit waylaid recently with other things so haven't kept this blog up to date. I will try to do so now! In the meantime, my photos from recent trips and local jollys  can be seen on my Zenfolio site and my Flickr site
http://mandywest.zenfolio.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51013318@N06/

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Scotland Photography Trip June 2012

***NEW PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP**
I am leading a second trip for the first weekend in June, exploring the area of Falls of Clyde in Scotland.
I have four places available for this trip.

We shall be based on the fringes of the Falls of Clyde nature reserve and will have the services of a knowledgeable, local guide for two days. We hope to see and photograph things such Peregrine, Dipper, Kingfisher and w...ith bit of luck,Otters :)

Also, excitingly, we shall spend an evening at a known Badger sett!

The dates for the trip are Fri 1st June-Sunday 3rd June 2012.

I have been unable to secure single rooms so all rooms are doubles/twins suitable for couples or for friends to share.

The cost of the trip is £189 per person which includes the following:
2 nights Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast
The services of a guide for the Sat/Sun
A Badger watch evening
Entrance to the Falls of Clyde nature reserve

Not included are transportation to Scotland and evening meals.
If anyone requires help arranging/booking transport please don't hesitate to ask ( I shall be travelling up there by train myself)

A deposit of £50 per person is required to secure a place with the remainder being due a week prior to the trip

This should be a fantastic, informal trip in a stunning part of the UK so hope you can join me. Please contact me via email mandy_west48@yahoo.com for further details or to book a place. Thanks!
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Saturday 28 April 2012

Far Ings Rarities 28-4-12

Red-rumped Swallow

Ring Ouzel
A visit in the bitterly cold and windy weather to see the reported Red-rumped Swallow and male Ring Ouzel. Great views of both species! Only managed a record shot of them but great birds to see at Far Ings :)

Wednesday 25 April 2012

A Couple of Hours at Far Ings NNR 24/4/12

I decided on a couple of hours out on the reserve as the sun was shining. I knew it wouldn't be long before the rain moved in so I took a chance. I was delighted to have a confiding Swallow perch up for me near to the visitor centre. I was also watching a flock of 4 Linnet in the car park area, everytime I approached, typically, they were off. So I lay down on the grass behind a picnic bench and waited patiently for them to return, which they did! Other birds of note were Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Avocet, Oystercatcher etc and a couple of Common Tern.
Kestrel

Linnet



Swallow

Meadow Pipit
Later in the evening we had a nice drive out to Worlaby Carrs and enjoyed good, if distant views of SEO. I didnt manage any photos of them but pulled up in the car to photograph a perched Meadow Pipit.

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Photography Trip to Derbyshire update

I have 2 places left now on this trip (details of trip below), for either a couple or two friends to share one room.

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Derbyshire Photography Trip June 2012

I am planning/ leading a 3 day photography trip with the onus on birds/landcapes of the Hope Valley area in Derbyshire.

I have 4 places available for this great few days in a beautiful part of the UK. The cost includes 3 nights bed & breakfast in a village pub (I have stayed there many times and its thoroughly recommended), one day at a secret location that is a hotspot for breeding Redstarts and also we shall enjoy two days exploring the delights of Padley Gorge/Longshaw estate enjoying such birds as Redstart, Pied Flycatchers, Grey Wagtail and Wood Warbler.

It is my intention to enjoy the area mainly on foot , mostly gentle although Padley Gorge has areas which demand a little fitness! It will be an informal trip with plenty of time for rest and relaxation where we can exchange photography tips and enjoy the areas scenery and wildlife.

The cost for the trip is £175 per person which includes:

3 Nights B&B, rooms have free wifi internet access.

One day visit to the Redstart breeding area

Two days visit to Padley Gorge/Longshaw estate.

Not included are evening meals and transportation to and from Derbyshire.

The dates for the trip are Sunday 10th June -Tuesday 12th June 2012. Photography days will be Monday Tuesday and Wednesday.

A deposit of £50 per person is required to secure a place with the remainder due by the beginning of May 2012. Further information/details of the trip will be forwarded to the participants in due course.

Hope you can join me! Please contact me via my email mandy_west48@yahoo.com  to register your interest or for further details.

Friday 3 February 2012

First Days in Nepal

Well Im safely here, the journey was fine until I reached Indira Ghandi airport in Delhi then a nightmarish couple of hours ensued! I was sent from pillar to post, no one would help me and I breathlessly ran the length of the airport as my plane was waiting to depart!! Then they wouldnt let me on the plane because I didnt have luggage tags on my camera bag/flight bag :(  Oh dont you just love Indian red tape??? :).
I have never been so relieved when they finally gave me luggage tags after raking out my bags (bearing in mind I had already passed through security!!)
Coming into land at Kathmandu was great, weaving between the mountains, then had an hour to queue for a visa after disembarkation. Luckily I found my guide as I left the airport and we drove to my guest house in a suburb of Kathmandu.
I am here until the weekend, the room is basic and very cold but Im slowly getting used to it! This is a crazy place, but delightful all the same. Wish I could bottle the smells around here, spices, incense, food, just great! The streets are narrow and so full of shops and people, and most time has been spent avoiding being run over by cars, motorcycles and rickshaws! So much to take in, absorb and most of all enjoy!
My guide is with me mostly but have had to venture out alone on occasions, a challenge but I have coped!
Am so excited about next week, heading on a tourist bus 5 hours away to Chitwan NP, a place I just cant wait to experience :)
I also am at the moment writing an article which will be published, along with some photographs, by the magazine Himalayas Nepal ( website http://himalayasnepal.com/)

I am also thinking ahead, I am most probably moving on to the awesome place that is Rathambhore NP after my month is finished here :) Lots of planning to do...............:)

Tuesday 10 January 2012

2012 Projects

It's looking like 2012 will be a busy but rewarding and enjoyable year for me :) In 3 weeks time I will be leaving the UK for a month or so to partake in a birding/conservation/photography trip to Nepal.

I shall also be visiting Sri Lanka again at some point, the business is up and running and the website should be live in the next few days http://www.sltourpal.com/, from the website you will be able to make enquiries, meet the team, and see all about what Sri Lanka has to offer! I did some of the written work for the site as well as providing the photographs - a task I enjoyed very much!

During the year I will hopefully also be involved in other projects that have been offered to me - one is working in Rajastan, at a eco lodge in Ranthambore National Park, which will involve staff training in hospitality etiquette and spoken English and also Tiger conservation work :)

Another exciting project is based in Chennai in the Tamil Nadu district of India- this will involve working in conservation projects within the education systems , teaching conservation awareness and with government funding, teaching children/young people the basics of photography(with a conservation/wildlife theme) so that they may take on board (and capture) the wonders of nature and so thus lay a foundation for them to take an active interest in these vital areas. All very worthwhile and productive and I will be proud to be part of it :)

I have also been offered the chance to work with the forest guards/NGO's in Gujurat too at some point :)

I should also be visiting Panama on a working trip around October time. It was to have taken place in March but has been put on hold for a while. This will also be a fantastic trip Im sure!!

Bring it on................Im ready :)!!!

Garden Observations



I have been laid up a bit this week with a shocking head cold so havent felt like going out much!I have spent sometime observing the birds visiting my garden, the Reed Bunting are visiting the feeders again regularly as are the Goldfinches. I have been lucky enough to also see Sparrowhawks (2) over my garden on many occasions and managed to photograph one recently. All these photos taken in my garden :)

Thursday 5 January 2012

Recent Patch Notes

The strong winds and showers have meant less time around the patch but I was delighted to finally catch up with the Short-eared Owl that has been hanging around the Humber foreshore at Far Ings. Always a great bird to spend time with :)
There are many Redwing around too at the moment, usually observed feeding on the hawthorn berries. Bullfinch are showing themselves quite a lot too at the moment, but try as I might, have still not managed to get one out fully in the open to photograph!
Short-eared Owl

Blue Tit

Redwing
In general the area is pretty quiet at the moment, but am hoping to get out again this weekend for a wander around, the forecast looks set to improve somewhat. That remains to be seen......

The feeders in my garden are being used regularly, Goldfinches are still visiting in good numbers as well as Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Great Tit, Dunnock and House Sparrow. I was happy to add Redwing and Bullfinch to my garden observations today :)