Tag Archives: Wildlife

Pictures

Sunny summer Sunday morning walk in West Berkshire

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With some nice early morning sunshine and clouds forecasted for late morning and the afternoon I decided to head out for an early walk today. What was originally planned for a 1-2 hours stroll turned into a 3 hours walk as the sunshine held up longer than forecasted and I discovered a few footpaths I hadn’t used before. My route took me from Aldermaston Wharf via Mill Lane to Home Farm near Padworth College. I then followed the road south until the junction before backtracking to Upper Church Farm, where I took the footpath west towards Aldermaston. Reaching the road a short stretch along the road, then turning north again on the footpath towards Fisherman’s Lane. On Fisherman’s Lane back towards Padworth Mill. A short stretch on Mill Lane before taking the footpath over to Padworth Lock. Then back to Aldermaston Wharf along the Kennet and Avon Canal. A few impressions from my walk:

Click on the pictures for the larger version in a gallery. The map for the area is:

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Pictures

Red Kite vs Red Kite

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Every once in a while I see a Red Kite having a go at another Red Kite, I assume defending its territory or invading another. Most of the time I don’t have a camera to hand (e.g. when I’m out jogging). Recently I spotted a pair having an aerial altercation just outside my flat, so I was able to quickly grab my camera. Unfortunately the light wasn’t great and it was quite hazy, so the pictures didn’t turn out that great (and my photoshop skills to improve them perfectly aren’t that good either), but I decided to share them anyway:

Click on the pictures for the larger versions.

Pictures

Magpie and Wren (and bonus Red Kite)

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Went for a walk locally in Aldermaston Wharf today, mainly to get in some practice with the DSLR and the big lens, having not used it much (or better, hardly at all) over the last 6+ months (mainly due to my heart surgery, where I wasn’t able to lift it for several months). Not an awful lot exciting about today, I managed to get some decent shots of a Magpie in a tree and of a Wren trying to hide in the undergrowth. Not to forget the obligatory Red Kite. I’m still fascinated how they can twist their bodies.

(Click on the pictures for the larger versions)

Heart Surgery, Pictures

The Birds and the Berries

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No, not the birds and the bees, the birds and the berries. Stop being naughty. For the last almost three months I haven’t been able to fully use my camera due to my heart surgery. Almost all the pictures I’ve taken were with the phone, except for the ones of the roses, but for that used the lighter ‘normal’ zoom. As I was limited in the weight I was allowed to lift I was unable to use my big (and unfortunately rather heavy) telephoto zoom lens. Only recently I’ve been allowed to start lifting more and on the 3rd Christmas Day (i.e. the 27th of December, the bank holiday in lieu of Christmas Day falling on Sunday) I decided to give the big lens a first go. I had spotted a number of birds going into a tree with red berries to feed. Not being used to lifting the heavy lens any more I wasn’t particularly successful, these three pictures I thought just about presentable:

(Click on the pictures for the larger versions)

I only lasted for about 10 minutes, then I really started to notice the weight of the heavy lens. Still a long way to go until that part of my body will have fully recovered, but I’m happy that I at least had a start now and have something to build on.

Pictures

Dragonfly at Wokefield Common

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Went to Wokefield Common today, tried to get a picture of a Broad-bodied Chaser but wasn’t successful as they were constantly on the move and too fast. So instead I took a few pictures of what I believe to be Common Darters.

(Click on the pictures for larger versions)