Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Adel Dam Nature Reserve

Sorry!!!!!

Okay. Thought I'd get that out the way as I start pretty much every post with a sorry and an excuse for not posting. This time? I have moved city and am now studying for a degree in photography in Leeds, England. Woop! Exciting!

Anyways, since moving, I have found myself very limited in my wildlife watching opportunities. It's important to note that I completely blame myself for this though. In the past couple of weeks, however, I have made a considered and deliberate effort to rectify this atrocity (wow...big words. Brain spin!)

One of these trips came in the form of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Nature Reserve - Adel Dam. Located in north Leeds, this wildlife haven is situated in a lovely location which feels more like the countryside than 6 miles outside the city centre!

As I constantly checked the weather forecasts on the run up to Saturday's trip, I was slightly disbelieving of the "lengthy sunny spells" forecast. Especially when it started snowing a few days before. Saturday came and, surprise surprise...it was SUNNY! Granted it was freezing outside - which the forecast had warned about...but I wasn't too bothered about that. Also I had borrowed a camera and 100-400mm lens from uni and so was raring to go.

Lorna and I made the short walk to the bus stop. Busy bus and so we were stuck at the back of upstairs...where we were stuck beside this really rude and annoying group of people. I kept reminding myself of some of the "star species" lists I had seen for the reserve. Maybe we'd see some of them. Block out the people! Stay focused on the photos I'll be able to take! When we arrived at Golden Acre Park (in which the reserve is situated), we came up against another small problem. The reserve isn't on any of the parks maps - since technically it's outside the Leeds City Council controlled section of the park! Whilst we were looking around, we visited the lake where we saw Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Coot and other water birds. Having looked at another map, we came across our first Woodpecker of the day - A Great Spotted Woodpecker. Male. Very soon after this, we saw a life tick for me - a Nuthatch. We were beginning to really enjoy the park, but still couldn't find the entrance to the reserve!

Eventually though, having asked a couple whom we overheard talking - who obviously knew the difference between a blackbird and a crow, we found the hallowed gate! When we entered, we made light work of the initial section of path to the first hide. This hide overlooked some feeders where we saw various tits and other small birds. Also Moorhen and Mallard Ducks. Having decided to go around the reserve and return to this hide for a longer more detailed stay, we made the short but muddy walk to the second hide overlooking a small lake. From here right away, we saw Teal and Grey Heron. Within moments, however, these birds faded into the background of my awareness...as out shot a dash of blue! Even a circling Sparrowhawk couldn't distract me from what we had seen! The Kingfisher, later determined to be a male of the species, gradually made it's way around the lake towards the hide. The 400mm zoom of the lens I had came in handy as it remained a ways off till eventually flying somewhere behind the hide. The cold eventually stirred us from the task of waiting to see if it would return to pose and we decided to continue on the round trip back towards the first hide.

From here, we again saw the ducks etc. We also saw Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit and possibly Marsh and Willow Tit although no photos sadly to confirm (when seeing them from that distance, it's hard both to tell them apart and from Coal Tits.) We also saw a return and had better views/photo ops of Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker! Lorna and I had a chance to share some birdwatching tips and ID help with a few groups of people (it was the camera - a lens that size, people just assume you know what you're talking about. Unsure whether I do or not!)

After that, we left the hide and headed straight for the YWT staff member who had come to the entrance in the time we had been walking around and signed up to become members of the charity. What can I say? We were most pleased by what we had seen and want to continue making a positive impact on the environment!

Having left the reserve, we went to a small cafe in the park and sat eating soup watching the birds eating feed left out for them next to the tables. These included a couple of Blackbirds, a flock of Long-tailed Tits and our first sighting of Chaffinch. We also had another view of Red Kite - which had in fact been the first bird we saw after getting off the bus...and which would later swoop over our heads whilst waiting for our bus back.

All in all, a fitful day! Now for some photos!



"Also I had borrowed a camera and 100-400mm lens from uni" (Credit: Lorna)

"Eventually...we found the hallowed gate!" (Credit: Lorna)

"The Kingfisher, later determined to be a male of the species, gradually made it's way around the lake towards the hide."

"We also saw a return and had better views/photo ops of Nuthatch"

"...and Great Spotted Woodpecker!"

"These included a couple of Blackbirds"

"...a flock of Long-tailed Tits."

"Having left the reserve, we went to a small cafe in the park and sat eating soup" (Credit: Lorna)

Thanks for reading. Remember to check on my facebook page for continued updates - which is kept much more updated than this blog! The address for that is: http://www.facebook.com/markienelsonphotography

The corresponding album for Adel Dam NR is found here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.444152862324154.98793.257953610944081&type=1&l=1bcd61736c

My week. (Part Two) RSPB Lochwinnoch

For part two of my blog "my week", I wanted to talk about something else I've done for the past few weeks. I have visited RSPB Lochwinnoch, a picturesque nature reserve at the edge of Renfrewshire. Now I have been there before. In fact, I volunteered there last year. However these were the first times I had visited in a while.

RSPB Lochwinnoch visitor centre and viewing tower taken on a previous visit on June 11th 2011

I have always been impressed with the reserve. Quite easy to get to and has given me some good photo opportunities not least in their wonderful photo hide!

So I returned here on May 23rd. It was a glorious day with temperatures soaring! Pretty much as soon as I got there, I went into the photo hide and then I saw something zoom past my view into the trees to the right of the hide. I quickly spotted that it had been a Great Spotted Woodpecker. He obligingly flew onto his favourite log where I have photographed him before which is set up outside the hide and smeared with fat. Sadly on this occasion he did not hang around very long. Soon after, the Lesser Redpoll showed up with the male of the species exhibiting a brilliant pink breast. Soon after it was the Siskin's turn to impress me with some brilliant greens.

After seeing and photographing some beautiful birds, I left the photo hide to have some food and went for a walk along one of the rivers at the reserve where I have seen and heard several members of the warbler family before. Given the sun and the heat, I rather foolishly sat for a while to try and photograph one. The results were...questionable. Deflated I then went the other way along the path. This walk was much cooler with the harsh sun being kept at bay somewhat by the trees. This time, I both saw and photographed Sedge Warbler. A stunning bird which I enjoyed photographing especially given the nice lighting and Spring greens in the photos.

I then returned on May 31st and again, headed straight for the photo hide. Almost down to the minute of my last encounter just over a week before, a male Great Spotted Woodpecker again landed on it's log and began picking the fat off. This time, it stayed for considerably longer. I was so honoured, especially as I was the only one in the hide at the time! Having eventually flown off, I was greeted by the usual suspects. Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, etc. All wonderful and unique in their own way. I also saw a couple of Mallard Ducks mating. then a jealous male Mallard started fighting the mating male trampling on the female as they went. The female was, gladly, unharmed.

So...my bird list. I'm going to combine the two visits as the bird lists for both are pretty much the same.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
Lesser Redpoll
Chaffinch
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Siskin
House Sparrow
Mallard Duck
Grey Heron
Collard Dove
Wood Pigeon
Jackdaw
Rook
Sedge Warbler
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

View of the Great Spotted Woodpecker on that first visit. After studying the picture, I can confirm it's a male.

One of my personal favourites of a male Lesser Redpoll.

A Sedge Warbler on a nice day.

A lovely male siskin. Lovely vivid colours.

The full body shot on the second visit which, probably this same male Great Spotted Woodpecker, had denied me the week before.

Mating turns nasty as a jealous Drake Mallard decides to fight a rival.

A blue tit's nest box as the parent returns with food.



Also news recently which I forgot to share is that I now have a Facebook "page", which you can have a look at and like if you wish. Click here to go to it.

My week. (Part One) "Whitethroat Field"

What's this funny thing? I believe it's called a "blog".

Okay okay. I know I spend most of my posts saying sorry for not posting in a while. I won't try to catch you up totally with what's been going on, but the nice weather we've had in Scotland has encouraged me to get out with my camera quite a bit and so I'm going to write about a few outings I've had this week. I'll separate them into two blog entries so as to make it easier on us both!

Firstly, a field I found near my house which seems quite the hotbed for wildlife. I've been there a few of times now. It's fantastic. First time was with my girlfriend Lorna. We just wandered down there and were very quickly greeted by Swallows, which we had thought we heard last year when we visited the same site then. That wasn't all though. We also spotted Whitethroat and House Martins too! Sadly at this point, two things were stopping me from being able to take decent photos of the birds. Firstly, the aforementioned good weather had not started yet. Secondly, my telephoto lens on my camera had developed a fault and I was awaiting it's replacement.


However, since these two setbacks have been banished, I have been back a few times with my new lens to take photos and have been able to add a few things to the list. I have also seen Sand Martins and Swifts. As far as insects go, I have spotted several species of flies including a few of the old favourites: hoverflies. Also a few bees. I have seen and photographed Orange-tip Butterflies and have even caught a glimpse of what I believe was a Common blue damselfly, although sadly no photos of the latter.


All in all I am really very impressed with this patch. Here's as full a list as I can manage. Educated guesses have an asterisk(*) next to them.



Birds

Whitethroat
Sand Martin
House Martin
Robin
Blackbird
Swift
Swallow
Starling
Mallard Duck
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Rook
Carrion Crow
Sparrow


Insects

Common Blue Damselfy*
Bumble Bee
Orange-tip Butterfly
Bluebottle Fly
Housefly
Hoverfly


And here are some photos of the aforementioned.

The underside of a female Orange-tip Butterfly.

Another view of the female Orange-tip.

A whitethroat on a fencepost.

Having a wee sing song.

Up close and personal!

A House Martin.

Swift.

I think this is a Sand Martin. Anyone care to disagree..?

This location has it's own set on my flickr...and so as always, feel free to check that out. It's found here.

Stay tuned for part two!

My Back Garden

Hey all! Sorry about the gap between posts. This month has been so hectic!

Before I start the post proper, I'd like to point out that I have a new website. Right now I'm still at the updating stage...but when you read this...who knows? I might be done! The address is http://www.markienelsonphotography.co.uk/

Okay so on with the post proper!

The other week, I got new seed for my bird feeders and took the opportunity to move the feeder a bit. Many keen bird watchers claim to have a "good garden". I for one get a cheap thrill every time I look out and see something on the feeders. Maybe I should get out more? Who knows. At the back of our garden there is a tree. Well...I say a tree. It's more like hundreds of trees packed into what might appear to be an oversized hedge. This environment seems to be great for our little garden visitors. In fact, yesterday I looked out to see a Greenfinch on the feeder. Now we have had Greenfinch in the garden before...but they are hardly common. Maybe one fleeting sighting every year? This year, however, there seems to be a couple coming to the garden everyday which is great as they are one of my personal favourites! Anyways I like to think of the trees as a bird apartment block. There is quite a fair few bird species call it their home and several more call it their dinner table. With the Greenfinch sighting fresh in my mind, and my camera clutched in hand, I stepped out to sit on our back step which overlooks the feeder. Here's the bird list from the 5 minutes or so I spent out there.

Great Tit
Blue Tit
Coal Tit
Dunnock
Blackbird
Robin
Greenfinch
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Chaffinch
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Lesser Black-backed Gull



Okay so not as impressive as some bird lists that I've made in the past. Not even the best for my garden. However I saw them all in the space of that 5 minutes. They (the garden birds in the list) were whizzing in, sometimes sitting for a while on the feeder then whizzing off again. This is usually a sign of young birds as they can get wary later. Some of the aforementioned were clearly young birds, but many have molted to all but look the same as the adults! The feeder is definitely, in my opinion, in the right place, and birds certainly seem to like the new seed I got them! Didn't get many pictures in such a short space of time, but here's 3 of my favourites!

The Greenfinch which started it all!

A Blackbird.

Ever the dependable Robin!

Oh...It's "The Oa"!

As stated in Friday's blog, on Saturday, Becky, Lorna and I visited RSPB The Oa (pronounced like "Oh"). A beautiful nature reserve on Islay for our last full day on the Island.

In the morning, we had all been woken up to the sound of severe rain. This got us worried. Would we still get out? After checking the frankly unrealistic weather reports promising us at least some sunshine in the afternoon, we left preparing for the worst. On the way, we saw a Buzzard sitting right next to the car. Even though it flew to a wall slightly further along the road, I still managed to snap off a few photos. I understand from the white fluff on the head and the slightly dowdy feathers that it was likely a young bird. It was at this moment that I realised the possibility that this may very well be a good day!

Indeed that is how it turned out. By the time we had arrived at the cliffs where the Golden Eagles have nested in the past, I was already down to my jumper. The only reason for keeping the jumper on was so as to avoid making my sunburn from the week worse! We had intended to walk one direction along the cliff face and back to the car. Then it happened. From behind the cliffs at the other side of a small valley, the unmistakably large silhouettes of a pair of Golden Eagles could be seen soaring up. Due to the bad position of the sun, my pictures were pretty poor...however the experience more than made up for it. We ended up crossing the valley in the hope of seeing them closer, only to have one soar over our heads back to where we had stopped to have lunch not to be spotted by us again sadly. We still had a brilliant day!


Other highlights included the many young Common Toads we spotted throughout the day, which Lorna absolutely loves! For those who do not like them, I would like to add that I used to agree with you. However, having held them myself, I can profess to having started to love them. They feel not at all as they look. Feeling more tender and soft than rough and slimey! Speaking of Amphibians and Reptiles, I also spotted a Common Lizard which the others hadn't seen and Lorna held it. We believe it is a pregnant female. Becky also saw some Adders!! As far as insects go, despite the bad weather in the morning, we were inundated with insects when the sun came out. Lots of Common Blue Damselflies, several butterfly and moth species, some beetles and a Grasshopper to name but a few! Other key bird species of the day for me was a family of Reed Bunting, a few Hen Harriers, some Lesser Redpoll and some Oystercatchers (again, to name a few!!)


All in all, a FANTASTIC day had by us all! If any of you are in the area, I cannot recommend The Oa enough! For Becky's blog from the day on the Islay Natural History Blog, click here.


Here are a few of my photos from the day.

Juvenile Buzzard. © Mark Nelson

A young Common Toad in Lorna's hand. © Mark Nelson

A Grasshopper. © Mark Nelson

A pair of Common Blue Damselflies mating in the classic "heart" shape. © Mark Nelson

Golden Eagle. © Mark Nelson

Pregnant Common Lizard. © Mark Nelson

Lorna and Becky with a beautiful cloud. © Mark Nelson

A cow looking at me. © Mark Nelson

A self timer of Becky, Lorna and I. © Becky Williamson

Ramble

Today, we had a great time on our nature ramble at Ardnave, Islay. We had received sightings and photographs of Rose Coloured Starlings in the Natural History Centre so were really hoping to see them. I think one or two of our number may have seen one...but not myself sadly!

We did manage to see various other birds, however, which were special in their own way. On the road up, we saw a Merlin flying over a field. Then when we arrived, we understandably had our binoculars straight out to look at the flock of Starlings which their rose coloured cousin has been spotted with. Lots of Sand Martins swooping over the water with Mute Swans swimming close by. Other highlights for me as far as birds go were the Snipe, Skylarks, Lapwings and a female Hen Harrier. This seems a great year for the latter here on the island. We also saw Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. One of our number also thought they saw a Great Black-backed Gull, but again I didn't. We also had some Song Thrushes following us throughout the ramble.

Half way through the walk, the rain started. This was quite a shock to the system given the roasting weather we have had so far on the holiday. This meant that my job as "butterfly counter" was made a lot easier with only one butterfly spotted. A Small Tortoiseshell being blown around a bit by the wind. I did see it land but thought it best to leave it be after it's ordeal.

As I write, the rain has stopped and the wind died down. Here's hoping for good weather tomorrow when we plan to head out to RSPB The Oa. Sadly I didn't get any photos given the poor conditions but hope to get loads tomorrow!

For a more official account of our ramble, you can visit the Islay Natural History blog entry from the walk.

Islay and Jura (late June till early July 2010)

Islay as usual did not let me down. As a special treat, Becky lent me her camera with it's lovely big lens while I was over so I could take lots of pictures of the wildlife. Here are some of my photos from Islay from that week. Click on them to be taken to the flickr page which will give more of a description.




Jura for me was another stunning island. It seemed like everywhere we looked we bumped into nature. At every turn there were dragonflies and damselflies, beetles, butterflies and birds. Not to mention the Red Deer and the Cows! Here is just a small number of photos from Wednesday 30th June when we went over to Jura.




Okay. So not a very small selection..but I hope you saw something nice. I know I enjoyed taking them.


Next Time...
Last week Lorna and I visited the Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick and went to Bass Rock on the boat. We also saw a famous face in the world of Naturalists. Can you guess who it was? Find out next time when I will also share some pictures which I took of my favourite bird - the Gannet.

Mark Nelson