A Focus on Nature

Today's post isn't going to be about my recent picture takings, but instead about an organisation called A Focus on Nature (visit their new website here).

It was founded in 2011 when a group of people involved in conservation decided to do something to help younger generations. There are now several supporters and sponsors of the project, including Opticron, birder and broadcaster Dr Rob Lambert of the University of Nottingham, Lucy McRobert, a recent graduate from the University of Nottingham, and Northshots Photography Tours.

"To encourage and engage with a young generation of committed, hardworking and passionate individuals, by opening their eyes, their minds and their imaginations to the exciting and continually changing world of nature conservation, through the provision of equipment, networks, advice and opportunities.

A Focus On Nature recognises…

• …the need to encourage young people aged 16 to 30 to get involved in, enthused about and passionate about the natural world. This encouragement needs to come in many forms – financial support, career advice, networking and experience.
• …that nature conservation is about far more than management – it is about writers, historians, policy makers, artists, film makers, photographers, agricultural students, scientists, teachers, politicians and tour guides. These all need to come from a younger generation and they need support to build their careers.
• …that using a variety of social media, online and live events and other promotional activities, the supporters & co-ordinators of the programme hope to recruit a team of committed young wildlife enthusiasts, supporting them with donations of optics, books and other useful equipment or services to use in their wildlife conservation activities.
• …that by focusing the eyes of young adults, we can focus their careers and their lives, for the benefit of not only the individual, but the bigger picture of nature conservation and the environment."

I have been lucky enough to be accepted onto their programme, and would strongly urge anyone else between the ages of 16-30 who are interested in any part of nature to apply. It's a fantastic opportunity to network and meet like-minded people, as well as furthering a career in conservation. Their judges meet twice a year to assess the applications, and successful entrants can win equipment such as a pair of binoculars, literature such as field guides, and mentoring by an expert in their field.

If do do decide to apply, you will need to submit an application form and an entry piece, which most show an appreciation of the natural world. On the form you need to give details about your education, and plans for future careers.

Their website is: http://www.afocusonnature.org/

I couldn't do a blog post without a single picture, so here's one of a lovely male sparrowhawk, shame it's not better, but it's the best shot I've got of one of these. While waiting for Bitterns, both the male and female sparrowhawks would zip across the front of the hide whilst out hunting.

Some more Bitterns

Most of my photography this winter has been spent with me sitting in pretty much the same chair in a hide waiting for Bitterns. On one occasion, I was watching one across a stretch of water when it suddenly erupted out of the reedbed and flew towards the hide into the reeds to the side of the hide.

It was great to see it ruffling out its feathers just before it took off.

I was back in the hide a couple of days after that, and in 7 and a half hours of waiting, I had 1 minute of photography, glad I didn't miss it! I had been watching one from the hide for a while, but it didn't come out until mid-afternoon, when it climbed up the reeds before taking off and flying away from me.

They won't be around much longer, and with this recent warm weather which is forecast to continue, I doubt it will be more than 2 weeks. Hopefully I'll get another chance to photograph them before they go!

Thanks for reading,

Oscar.

Bitterns 2013!

Almost a year ago to the day I photographed Bitterns as well as I had before. and was treated to spectacular views, all within London. Over this winter I've spent many many hours encamped in hides waiting for these elusive and expertly camouflaged birds to appear. There's no guarantee with them of course, but I've managed to get some images I'm pleased with over the past few weeks.

 This image was taken when one individual ventured very close to one of the hides, but never came out in the open, so the only opportunity for photographs was when its head appeared through the reeds.

One day, I had been sitting in a hide from 9.30, and it was fast approaching 4.30. The light was getting worse, and I was starting to think about packing up. It was lucky I didn't though, as at 4.20 one flew in from the main reedbed and into the reeds right in front of the hide. The above image has been altered however. I had to add some canvas onto the left, and also extend a couple of the reeds out to the left.

It then landed halfway up the reeds and stood there for about a minute.

The day after that I saw the birds from another hide, this time in lovely evening sunlight. It had gradually worked its way closer to the hide, and then emerged from these green reeds.

I did get some other pictures of Bitterns, so will share these with you next time.

Thanks for reading.

Some more foxes

Following on from my last post, I went back to the foxes a couple of days later and was able to get some more pictures of them in the snow.

Since then my photographic attention has been diverted somewhat, to my favourite bird. Some of you will already of course know what this is, but for those who don't, here's a sneak peek.

There will be a blog post on these in the near future!

Thanks for looking

Snow!

Earlier this month, London was covered in a thick layer (for us anyway!) of snow for at least 3 days. We don't get enough of the white stuff down here, so I spent as much time as possible out photographing in it. Predictably, I went to see my foxes, and despite struggling to find them at all to begin with, by the end of 2 days I'd got some shots I was really pleased with.

On the first afternoon I only really got two pictures I was pleased with:

 I also found this Robin perched in the snow.

The following day I was out again, this time in the falling snow, and I was keen to get some pictures of the animals against a completely white background.

This one, however, is probably my favourite from the day:

I do have some other fox images to show you, but I'll leave them for next week.

Thanks for reading.

More Bearded Tits

I've been to photograph the Bearded Tits in London several times now, and so have a few more images to show.

Next time I'll have some pictures taken in the recent snowfall.

Thanks for reading.

Fake Tits

That title should increase the blog hits a bit! The keywords might not be related to wildlife photography though...I must say however, that I sort of stole the title from David Lindo's blog here.

Anyway, yesterday afternoon I heard that 2 Bearded Tits had been seen in Hyde Park. Although it was reported that they were coming very close, I wasn't confident they'd be photographable, and so decided instead to spend the afternoon in South Ealing watching the Waxwings. The views of these were very good, and I was also treated to good views of a male Blackcap. I got there a bit late though, as the sun was already behind the houses by the time the Waxwings came down onto the berry tree.

Having seen that the Bearded Tits were still present at dusk on Friday, I thought I would make the trip early this morning. After a 7.10am start, I found myself walking up and down a small reedbed no more than 2x40m trying to locate the birds. I did this five or six times with no success, and then another birder turned up. We tried again, and he spotted them immediately, feeding on the reed heads. The light was dire, with shutter speeds of only 1/30th at ISO 800 so I couldn't take any shots until at least an hour later. I stayed until 11.30 and was treated to superb views of these normally elusive reedbed specialists. They were close, but it wasn't just that; they were never out of view for more than about a minute before they'd clamber back up the reeds in full view of the path. Hundreds of people passed by and birds couldn't have been less bothered.

Forecast is good for tomorrow morning, so I may have more shots to post tomorrow!

Thanks for reading