Back Over The Boarder

Dumfries & Galloway - 6.3.22

Earlier this year as I hadn't been up to the Scottish Boarders I though I'd treat myself to a weekend away now that restrictions were ending, and what a better way to blow the cobwebs off than three days of hectics photography.

Friday is always a late night starting with a couple of hours hopefully with Badgers, in reality after a long wait it was only the briefest of visits as something spooked the Badger never to return, hey ho !

Saturday was a long session starting around 9.0am with Kingfishers but little else, a location in previous years where Buzzards could be photographed on a deer carcass across the river but no longer. Loads of chatting helps pass the time with some visits evert 45 minuets or so until an evening session with an Otter family. The Otter session being the highlight of the weekend and most looking forward to having been to this location many times, the images below only gives so idea what an experience it was.

Now Sunday with blue sky's the light is very harsh and not really conducive to getting any decent images but I make the best of my time. Now late afternoon it's a time to say hello again to the Pine Martin but this time using flash rather than LED lamps which are more difficult to get the correct exposure, two visits and it's all done, time to the road and a long drive. Until the next time.

Badger

Female Kingfisher

Otter

Male Sparrow Hawk

Blue Tit

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Red Squirrel

Pine Martin

Into The Pine Forest

A Forest Somewhere In Galloway - 18.1.20

After last nights no show visit of the Pine Martin due to the foul weather, apparently Pine Martins they don't like rain, I'm back again and with luck get some images of the northern generally nocturnal mustelid. You may notice the images aren't lot different to those posted from last year, next time I'll try for something different, never the less its always good to catch up with scares animals.

With rain now having passed through the indications look good for a visit. To one side of the wall set there's a pole where an egg can be placed up towards the top....Pine Martins love eggs. I'm given some advice that the Martin will go for the egg first but you got to be quick.

With all the waiting which can be well over an hour after darkness you can loose concentration from the constant scanning for the martin appearing, then sudenly I'm given the nod the martin has appeared out of the blackness of the forest, it runs along the wall and up the pole grabbing the egg disappearing back into the forest, it happened so quick and yes I missed the shot of the animal on the pole managing just a slightly blurred shot...hey ho !...maybe next time.

Pine Martin

Oh What A Night !

Galloway - 12.10.19

Tonights I've arranged a session in one of Alan Mcfadyen's Pine Martin hides, a first for me never having seen this generally scares nocturnal mustelid, so with some anticipation I'm looking forward to getting images only possible north of the boarder.

With only about forty five minuets of daylight remaining I have to drive around ten miles and be in the hide before it gets dark, time to crack on. Now in the hide and the camera set up it's a waiting game, I'm told the animal usually appears around 8.0am so with some time to spare a good opportunity to check out some of the camera settings before the action begins.

The set comprising a small platform in front of the hide dressed with some rocks lit with several LED's, to the right a ramp to the ground disappears off into the darkness of the pine forest which is blacker than black. It's a bit eerie sat in the darkness with the wind blowing through the trees and the odd calling Tawny Owl for company, an hour as passed and it's started raining....surely not much longer to wait !

All eyes are focused on the ramp to the right of the set the direction the Pine Martin is expected to appear...wrong, all of a sudden from the left out of the darkness the Martin jumps up like a spring onto the set. Not wanting to spook the animal it's single shot silent mode only and the action begins, I think the animal is aware of our presence probably as it can hear the camera shutter occasionally disappearing to the safety of the forest only to return as it can't resist the free offerings. The action doesn't last long the Pine Martin finally disappears permanently into the darkness not returning for the remainder of our visit.

With the rain now having stopped and local food outlets closing shortly it's a good point to call time. It's been a very interesting session and I continue to learn shooting with LED's. If you get the chance book a session in one of Alan's hide you won't regret it.  

Pine Martin