Chough

Here is another image of one of the Choughs that I photographed about a week ago, They have ben seen in the same area again so while I am there watching seals I might keep an eye out for these guys too! 

Adder

Below is another image of an Adder photographed in Cornwall! This adder was found on the south coast of Cornwall in a location which seems to have the perfect environment for these reptiles! I have been three times and both times have seen these creatures! 

Seals

Below are a couple of shots taken of seals in Cornwall. The top image was taken in Falmouth Harbour and the image at the bottom was taken at Godrevy. Hopefully ou like the images and I will upload something different tomorrow!

Grey Seal

The image below was taken in Cornwall about two days ago. This was a male bull seal which was very inquisitive and came very close to see what I was doing! The way his image was captured emphasises the personality of the seal!

North Coast Landscape

Todays image is one of a Cornish Landscape! This image was taken at Godrevy on the North Coast of Cornwall! I like the subtle colours and the muted effect that this causes! 

Adder

Below is an image of an Adder in Cornwall! Once we had found this it meant that I had seen 5 out of the 6 british reptile species in one week! Not too bad, once I have seen a sand lizard then I am complete! Dorset is one of the only places to see them in the UK. Apart from small populations around the place. 

Hunting Kestrel

Today, is an image of a Kestrel hunting. I used the hedge in the foreground to make this effect as I feel that without it the shot would be very plain. Hopefully you like the image, 

Cornish Cormorant

Here is an image of a Cormorant taken in Cornwall a few days ago, I really like the effect achieved when shooting through reeds. 

Choughs! Sparrow Hawk! No Seals?

Today I decided to go back to one of my trusted seal sites to see which of my 6 studied Seals were still around after 3 months of being out of Cornwall. As I walked down towards the area,  a sparrow Hawk flew out of the hedge in front of my with a Black Bird in its talons. I was unable to get a shot but stalked it for a while and eventually got a snap of it. Nothing outstanding but I got a shot at least!

After this I went and got in to position for an afternoon of waiting for the seals. However I soon heard the call of the Choughs. They came round the headland and landed right next to me behind a small hedge. I crawled round and did my best to get shots in the 2-3 minuets they were feeding. They spent a short time feeding before talking to the skys and flying west, down the coast. 

I also saw my first adder, which as nice! 

Meadow Pipit

This is an image of a young meadow pipit chick that had just fledged from the nest and was lost amongst the heather at RSPB- ARNE in Dorset. Tomorrow will be an image of a Cormorant photographed in Cornwall.

Kestrel

The image below was taken on the north coast of Cornwall, about three days ago. This is a male Kestrel, perched on the side of a cliff. I would like to get better images of this individual over the next few weeks.

Tomorrow I will upload a picture of a Meadow Pipit photographed in Dorset.

Japanese Sika Deer

This image was taken in Dorset at the RSPB _ ARNE reserve. They are about 300 on the reserve and with some luck and patience can get quiet close! Let me know what you think.

Tomorrow will be an image of a male Kestrel photographed recently.

Puppies

My aunt recently had chocolate labrador puppies! I had a few attempts at photographing them but all where in the evening when the light was going! However I like the images. 

First Wildlife Film!

Please can you take some time to watch my first short wildlife sequence and let me know what you think?

It was filmed in Dorset over three days and includes a few different species, including kingfishers!

The video can be found on this link: 

http://vimeo.com/27926656

Mean while here is a shot of a young common lizard in Dorset

   

Grass Snake

This is a small grass snake photographed at the RSPB ARNE reserve in Dorset. I am currently editing my first wildlife film. This should be up tonight to please check back to see. And please let me know what you think of it!

Kingfisher 6

Another shot of a male kingfisher in Dorset!

Kingfisher 5

Tomorrow, I return to Cornwall. To start my third and final year. I am studying Grey Seals, and the way in which humans impact upon them positive and negative. I am going to continue to upload one picture a day and also work on my website: www.samstewartphoto.org

The image below is of a male kingfisher hunting from the river bank. When I am next back in dorset for a while I will try to get some better images. 

kingfisher 4

Another of my images from the other days shoot! I unfortunately have no time to go back to this location however when I am next home or in the area I might try and take this project further. 

Kingfisher 3

Here is a shot of a kingfisher in flight. There is room for massive improvement, but it gives me something to aim for! It has been exported from light room at very low resolution so it looks worse than it is. 

Kingfisher 3

This image below was taken two days ago, on a shoot on a private stretch of a small river in Dorset. This image is full frame and had not been cropped at all! 

Kingfisher 2

This is the second of my shots from yesterdays shoot with the kingfishers. Again this is a male, and he spent about 5 minuets making himself look pretty. I am starting to edit some footage today and I will upload it when it has done. 

Kingfishers

Today, I tried a new area all together. On a tributary to the Stour I set up on a private stretch of river owned by some friends of mine. Shortly after setting up I had some luck and it got better and better for the few hours I was there. I will upload a shot a day for the next week or so and there will be a video once I have edited it. 

Male Kingfisher, photographed in Dorset 

Kingfisher Edit

Here is a shot taken this morning edited slightly differently. Let me know what you think!

Kingfishers

Today I spent some time at the new Kingfisher site. It was quiet but they did pass by and they did land and hunt from the perch I was watching. I am going to try and get some better shots in the next few days. 

A few of my shots in lightroom

River Stour

Today I spent some time walking the banks of the River Stour, looking for suitable kingfisher sites. I have found a perch which spans the river and In the time I was there I have a few sightings and one landed on the perch for a few seconds. I am going back early tomorrow morning to get a shot. 

New Forest Show - First Prize

The New Forest and Hampshire Country Show is an annual agricultural show held for three days at the end of July. With large amounts of individuals, groups, organisations, and businesses present at the show, there is a large variety of stands large and small which are all in some way related to the local area or conserving the environment.

Stewarts Garden Center from Wimborne and Christchurch, have  created a flower meadow at the show for the last 5 years. The site is prepared early in the year and the seed is sown directly to the garden in April and the area is worked on and protected until the show at the end of July. We at Stewarts are extremely pleased to have won First in the 'Trade Stand' section.
Below are a few of my images from the show. I am hoping to get a macro lens in time for the show next year as the garden attracts large amounts of wildlife.

www.stewarts.co.uk