Scozmo's Photery

Much as I love the word dreich, it just works, I am getting truly fed up of it, grey, dull, dank skies, often raining and not real rain but that misty wet stuff that clings when it lands. To my memory, the last sunny day we had was Jan 19th when i went up to the reservoir, the sun did try to get through a couple of days back but only for a few minutes, then gave up. Apparently the jetstream is pointing right at us and a weather front is stuck over Scandinavia and we’ve had Easterly winds all this time ……. cold!

Ok, enough whining. Meanwhile, I still get out for my walks, I’d go nuts if I didn’t 🙂

I was just having a bit of banter with a chap I follow on Mastodon. For those unaware, it is a much better way to social! I keep a FB presence for contact with old colleagues and it genuinely feels like a toxic environment when I visit.

Anyway, I digress 🙂 I have still been getting out for my walks, we always said, we have the clothes, the weather shouldn’t stop us.

As far as photography goes, dreich means flatter images, often drab white looking skies but, I just cannot go out without a camera 🙂 FOMO!!!!

Feb 9th – I’ve been following the same basic route over the past days, varying the walk as I go along, the longest being yesterday at just shy of 3.5 miles o’er hill and down dale 🙂

As I walked between the barns I spotted Skylarks over the field, flying up and meeting in a flurry of wings and legs which I tried to capture but unsuccessfully, for now; a flight of Rooks flew right at me then took evasive action.

See what I mean about the sky? I was counting the Roe deer down the field when I spotted a young one lying dozing in the grass 🙂

I attempted quite a few shots of the larks but none were worth saving so, I shall gird my loins and head over in a few moments.

Down at the camera site, the Stonechats dropped by after a while, I once again consider myself very lucky that these birds come to see what I’m up to when I visit, giving me great photo opportunities.

Mrs Chat is the paler of the two and usually tends to be a bit more accepting of my presence but on this day, Mr came much closer, maybe really hungry?

Later, looking at the RAW files, I really liked this shot …

I’ve done very little in the edit, resized and lightened a little. My wildlife camera is strapped to that log.

I crossed the bog and it really IS now, VERY wet and clingy underfoot but, my trusty Vivos keep my feet dry, I love them.

Vivo Barefoot Magna Forest

As I reached the other side, a decent flock of birds landed in the trees, I approached slowly with Merlin on and recording. I could see they were Thrushes but …. mixed?

These were Fieldfare but there were Redwing, Mistle Thrush and Blackbirds in there too and a Brown Hare scampered off while I was standing watching them.

I carried on across the field and Merlin decided it had heard a Black Redstart and Sanderling, both possible but without a sighting I discounted them. I do hope though, a Black Redstart would be very nice 🙂

I didn’t bother with any more shots, it was now raining and even duller …. until I got back up to the barns.

A VERY heavily de-noised shot of the Barn owl out dozing, it dived back into the nest box as soon as I took these.

Feb 10th – I did a longer walk taking in the ponds down the hill, still cold and dank but the air is clear and fresh, ok the ground is soaking wet the sky is blah but it still feels good to be out.

I stopped off at the first feeding post, I usually drop some food here but there’s usually only a few birds that drop by ….. not today!

Not all of these shots are great but, I just loved all the activity that was going on right in front of me.

Two! Yes two, Treecreepers dropped onto the tree trunks right beside me, wonderful to be so close.

Two Robins dropped in, which instantly caused ructions 🙂

Two or three Nuthatches, Coal, Great & Blue Tits and a couple of Chaffinches all dropped in. Spot the Robin photo-bombing.

As you may have noticed, I love Nuthatches, so comical, quick and alert but, getting used to my presence too.

I now “know” there are at least two pairs, probably more 🙂 Looking forward to breeding season.

Off to the old Oak where not many turned up, they were all back at the first feeding post 🙂 I carried on down the lane to the drystone wall entrance and into the woodland walk down to the ponds, this is where I first caught sight of three Roe deer among the trees and kept seeing them as I looped around.

VERY wet down by the ponds but, I did spot a pair of Greylag Geese lurking by one of the ponds. There was a pair hanging around last year, looking like they’re hunting for a nesting site, here’s hoping.

I tried to stay well clear but I did hear them honking and saw them fly off 😦

Along the road, back to the lane, getting colder as I headed back up towards home.

There were those three deer again and I caught this iffy shot of the Stag as he checked me out.

When i got back to the feeding posts there was still a fair bit of activity but numbers had dropped and no sign of any Red Squirrels 😦

Can’t have everything, right?

I’m away for a walk so, stay safe, and warm.

patch photos