Farmland Wildlife, Forest of Bowland, April 2014

I spent a week this month on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, staying in one of the properties at Bleasdale Cottages. This was a return visit, having spent nearly two weeks there last November whilst working in the area. This time I had no distractions, and with the good weather was able to venture out most early mornings and evenings with my camera.

It was pleasing to see that the local barn owls had taken to one of the nest boxes I had built and supplied last year. This picture was taken well after sunset so required a long exposure (0.1s, ISO 800, f/4); fortunately the owl kept still!

The cottages are at Lower Fairsnape Farm, a large area that is now managed for local wildlife. There is plenty to watch and hear on the doorstep. The marshy fields attract breeding lapwings, oystercatcher, curlew and redshank so there is a constant chorus from dawn till dusk.

Apart from the owls, I found roe deer in the recently-planted woodland, an oystercatcher on his favourite fence, partridges, and wheatear in the local fields.

There are also many hare but my best shots of them were taken one glorious evening on the slopes of the nearby hill.

Water Voles, Wotton-under-Edge, April 2014

I signed up for a day out with Iain Green, through the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, to photograph water voles on a stream near Wotton-under-Edge. The weather was kind with generally thin cloud. The voles were very cooperative and the whole group was able to get some good shots. During the day we also saw dippers, kingsfishers and grey wagtails. It is amazing what there is on your doorstep!

Severn Bore, March 2014

Some images from the three largest daytime bores in March on the River Severn.

These ones are from the 4-star Severn Bore as it passed Broadoak, just north of Newnham, on Sunday 2 March at around 07:30. The sun came briefly towards the end, adding a touch of sparkle to close-up shots of some canoeists.

These are from the following day, Monday 3 March at around 08:18, again at Broadoak but slightly further south. This time it was a 5-star bore, the last daytime one of the year.

And these are from the following day, Tuesday 4 March at around 09:00, at the same position at Broadoak. This was another 4-star bore; somewhat of an anti-climax after yesterday. There were far fewer surfers around but it was later in the day, sunny and so there was plenty of light.

Somerset Levels, February 2014

After weeks of grey rain clouds, some decent light enticed me to the Somerset Levels to see the flooding. Arrival at dawn at Stathe proved useless as there was too much water to venture along the far bank of the River Parrett (10-20 cm deep and flowing fast over the top of the bank into Southlake Moor). So I headed for Aller and ventured on foot along Aller Drove. This wasn't close enough to get good pictures of Burrow Mump but I took a few at a distance, plus some of the swans and heron enjoying the weather.

The calm and serenity hides the devastating effect on many local homes and businesses, plus the huge effect on much wildlife: drowning, hunger, and potential poisoning from release of toxic materials