Wildlife – Mel Taylor Photography Blog

The Great Bustard

Its been sometime since I last blogged. I was thinking that with all the restrictions and less work I would have more time on my hands but I have decided that 2020 is in some sort of time warp and 24 hrs seems like 12 hrs, especially now that the evenings are so dark.

We have been blessed recently to have a rare bird visit Oxfordshire. “The Great Bustard”. I have had the pleasure of seeing it in several different locations.

In the UK, the great bustard became nationally extinct when the last bird was shot in 1832. This iconic species of the Wiltshire landscape returned to the UK in 2004 when the Great Bustard Group initiated the 10-year trial reintroduction. The project sourced birds rescued from agricultural operations in Russia, with a plan to release 20 birds per year onto Salisbury Plain.*

The first sighting was early one morning, it was a bit misty and the light was very poor. I noticed he/she on the brow of a field. So then had the challenge of getting closer. I had my three dogs with me so capturing it on camera was going to be a challenge. The image quality is not great due to the conditions.

The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is one of the heaviest flying birds alive today.

The Male Bustard is much bigger than the female. I am thinking this is a female but thats just a guess.

Males: Standing height 90-105cm. Wingspan 210-250cm. Weight 8-16kg.
Females: Standing height 75-85cm. Wingspan 170-190cm. Weight 3.5-5kg.

The Great Bustard is omnivorous, meaning it eats both animal and plants. Its diet is mainly composed of plants during spring, autumn and winter.

They favour lowlands, river valleys, and undulating open land.

They are long-lived birds, those that make it through their first year apprently usually live on for another 15 or 20 years.

The wing span is huge and it is very impressive in flight.

The next time it was around, it was a very foggy morning. I was given a tip off that it was around. Visibility was very poor. After searching for 3/4 hr I was about to give up when I suddenly spotted it lurking in the fog.

Although the image quality is poor, you can see in the image below how big the Great Bustard is compared to the phesant to its right.

Putting its size into perspective below with a ewe.

Thankfully some slightly better weather and a few days later another oppertunity to see this lovely bird in another location.

Not always so easy to find!

Beautiful in flight

On the look out!

Getting a little peckish!

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the blog!

All images are copyright of Mel Taylor Photography and should not be used without permission.

*Reference RSPB Website. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/projects/reintroducing-the-great-bustard-to-southern-england/

Wildlife at Wooley

I have got a little lazy taking the camera out with me on my dog walks. Two young dogs and a Collie and a camera was always a bit tricky and they had not learnt to wait quietly.

I would be rich if I got a pound every time I came home and said I wish I had taken the camera.

The dogs are more settled now and are learning that when I have the camera and stop, they might as well just settle down! There does not seem to be as much wildlife around as there was 5 yrs ago.

Thankfully I had the youngest on the lead. He has extremely high chase drive so today’s walk could have got very exciting.

The first sighting was a deer running from the copse across the field. First thoughts are on to the dogs, making sure I have their attention, Buzz and Maya were off lead. I was a bit late getting the camera up on this one and it was quite a distance away but managed to capture it jumping over the fence to get to the woods beyond.

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I walked the dogs up to the woods but there was not much going on so decided to head back, letting Dash off the lead for a bit of ball play. In the distance, I could see what I thought was a couple of dogs running around so decided that he had best go back on the lead as he is not good with other dogs! Just as well, the eyesight is not what it used to be and soon I realised it was another two deer.

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Would I be lucky enough for them to head in my direction? What had spooked them?

I scatter feed my dogs regularly, it’s much more rewarding for them than having food from a bowl. It also has its uses in emergency situations! Buzz went on lead very quickly. Maya aged 11 was trusted. Down went the food to get their attention off the two deer which I could see were heading for me. I sat on the floor and what a wonderful sight. The dogs didn’t even notice them!

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How mad would I have been if I had not taken the camera out!

If it wasn’t for scatter feeding then I would not have got these images as the dogs would not doubt have been going mad on the end of the leads wanting to chase!

Just when you think you have had a great day, I turned around to see these beauties in the field behind me. 2020-02-09_0013 2020-02-09_0014

I won’t be venturning out in todays wind and rain with the camera!

In and around Letcombe Regis – March/April 2015

I have been rather busy recently and hence the delay in getting another of these put together. The weather improved as we moved to spring and so I am able to take the camera out more. The mornings get lighter and the evenings darker and the wildlife are busy setting about spring time activities.

Wild Deer

March and April were both good months for spotting the local wild deer. The are easily spooked so always a challenge to get a shot before they see either the dogs or myself and then I have the dilemma depending on how close they are as to whether I think I should grab the dogs in case they think about chasing (which they have never done yet) or get the image!

These deer were in the fields beyond Letcombe Regis. A young stag in the middle.

These deer were near the Ridgeway near Letcombe Regis.

These images were taken on a walk on the outskirts of Hendred.

This herd was seen on a walk on the Ridgeway near Letcombe Regis. A lovely group of young stags! It was a shame the rape was not in full bloom!

I spotted this single deer near Letcombe Regis… those living locally may recognise the landscape.

Birds of Prey

Not a very exciting collection of images but I am always in awe of any Bird of Prey and could watch them for hours. These kites were taken around Letcombe Regis.

Kestrels are very shy little birds so I am always please if I mange to get some images. This one was hiding in the blossom on the way into the Nature reserve, Letcombe Regis.

This one was on the road to Letcombe Basset near College Farm…

Occasionally I see Kestrels around the recreation ground in Letcombe Regis, but they are quick to fly off when you see them. This one was in one of the trees near the football pitch.

This one was perched on the Cricket Sight screen on the recreation ground.

This next picture was a rare caputure I have never seen one on the ground before looking for carrion. Taken by the Cricket Pitch on the recreation ground.

Other Birds

There always a lot of Canada Geese around the village. Sadly I have not seen any goslings this year. Taken behind the Recreation Ground.

Taken at the pond on the Deer Farm.

Robins, again very shy birds but so beautiful and such lovely calls. Both images taken near the deer farm.

I see Yellow Hammers every year but this year I have not seen so many and they take flight quickly when they see you coming. Such a colourful bird.

Thurshes are again very shy birds but also very graceful… this was taken on the recreation ground.

Game Birds

Partridges, lovely beautiful birds, very good at hiding and very shy….

The Solar Eclipse 2015

A major event for March… images taken from my garden.

Letcombe Village

St Andrews Church in Letcombe Regis had a new roof and looked very smart this spring with the Daffodils.

Deer Farm

Coming out of Winter and looking a bit scruffy with mud covered winter coats. I always look forward to the arrival of the newborn calfs.

Thank you for reading my post. Some of my images are available on Postcards or Greeting cards at the Richmond Homes, village shop and tea rooms. Thank you for reading my post. www.meltaylorphotography.co.uk

National Wildlife Trust

I recently entered the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trusts, its always hard to know what to enter in an open competition but I had taken this image on the nature reserve in Letcombe Regis recently. It took several attempts to get the bird in flight coming out of the nest box, they are very small to focus on and extremely fast. So nice to see the boxes in use.

Oxford Festival of Nature Wildlife Photo Competition

I was very pleased to receive an email earlier in the week stating that I had gained 2nd place in the Wildlife Category.

The images will be displayed at the Wild Fair at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History on the 13^th June,

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. www.meltaylorphotography.co.uk

Nominated for The Societies’ Photographer of the Year 2014

This week I got great news that one of my Nature images, that gained a Gold Award with the Societies in July this year has been shortlisted for The Societies’ Photographer of the Year 2014. The Societies is Europe’s largest all-welcome association for the serious photographer.

I am thrilled to have been shortlisted for the award this year. We are blessed in and around Letcombe Regis to have wonderful countryside and an abundance of wildlife. My nominated image of the Hare won a Gold Award in the Societies Monthly competition earlier in the year and was taken in Letcombe Regis early one morning in June this year.

I will be competing for the prestigious award of “Nature Photographer of the Year” and The Societies’ “Photographer of the Year,” with the winner being revealed at The Societies’ 2015 Convention Awards Dinner held on 17 January 2015 in London.

Please check out www.meltaylorphotography.co.uk.

Red Kites

Birds of Prey are a real passion of mine and I am lucky to live in an area where there are plenty of Red Kites and Buzzards so get the opportunity to photograph them on a regular basis. All the images in the post were taken in or around Letcombe Regis, Wantage, Oxfordshire.

The red kite disappeared from England and Scotland at the end of the nineteenth century.

In 1989, the Nature Conservancy Council (now known in England as ‘Natural England’) and the RSPB launched a project to reintroduce the red kite back into England and Scotland.

Chicks were brought over from Spain under strict regulations and reintroduced into the Chilterns. The first successful breeding in the UK was noted in 1992 and since then numbers have increased to approximately 400-500 breeding pairs.

Kites are still actively monitored

Red Kites can often be seen being chased by crows. This image gained a Silver Award with the SWPP.

Some Red Kite Chicks were fitted with wing tags and ringed they contain a unique identification number and colour coding which identifies where the chick was released and when. If I see a tagged bird I report it and often get sent the details back. This bird White/Blue 69 was one of a brood of three nestlings tagged at Park Wood near Oundle, Northants in June 2010. It had also been recorded in a pre roost gathering at Fermyn Hall Park 7th October 2010.

The kite will adapt its diet according to local conditions – it is an opportunistic feeder and a scavenger – feeding mainly on carrion. They can often be spotted in fields hunting. Here are two kites in a stubble field searching for Carrion.

Kites are often seen chasing each other and flying in unison. This often takes place between pairs bonding, although sometimes there seems to be no particular reason for this, except for ‘play’ which may improve flying skills.

The wing span of the Red Kite is between 5-5.5 Ft

Thank you for reading my post. http://www.meltaylorphotography.co.uk.

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