Time for a Drink !

Hides de Calera (Day 2, PM) - 13.10.2025

Now the afternoon session and we are heading to one of the many Dehesa’s (open wooded area) which is set up with a drinking pool always an attraction to passerines. The pool is very much the same as you would find at any other other location but here in sunny Spain much more productive.

With blue sky’s the sun is not kind as we are located in a shaded area shooting onto a open field of yellow in full sun which is over exposing the subject image background…doh ! fortunately as the afternoon progresses the light get better, but never ideal.

Azure-winged Magpie’s are everywhere maybe unto twenty, several of the group move off only to be replaced by another simular number, it’s manic. They are so quick, you just have to wait for one to land an fire off a burst hoping you get one in focus.

A single Hawfinch arrives it’s a male, then two more in total maybe up to ten both male and female, then they get spooked taking to the trees, but they soon come back.

Visitors include, some surprising having not seen previously…Hawfinch m/f, Goldfinch, Greenfinch m/f, Chaffinch, Blackcap m/f, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Azure-wing Magpie, Common Magpie. Robin.

Azure-winged Magpie

Hawfinch

Blue Tit

Chiffchaff

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