Nearing the end of the year

 

Looking back, it`s been a year of mixed emotions, dominated by our Dad`s declining health, leading to a long period of palliative care, and then his passing in June. This meant that between February and June in particular I spent a significant time away from home, and therefore many things took a back seat, including photography projects. 

This photo above is one of my "thinking spots" back home, a place to try and get some perspective back, feel the fresh air, listen to distant Curlew, and re-evaluate a lot of things.

But there have been a number of positives squeezed somehow into the odd gaps - the catching up with old friends; occasional projects (including work with the falconry); monitoring breeding Kingfisher for WWT when time permitted; meeting, for the first time, one of my long-time "heroes" - Don Powell of Slade, at a video shoot with the Don Powell Band; moving forward with my new Church; a bit of airshow photography; trying out new video work, etc etc. 

 

The `planned` list of projects for 2023 was quite extensive, but nearly all of them haven`t even been started. My wishlist kit wise stills remains a dream for 2024, but just grateful for what I did manage to see and do during what has been a very busy, emotional and occasionally difficult year. Onward and upward for 2024.

I`ve enjoyed carrying on my WWT volunteering when time permitted, which has included data collection on the Reserve, `Walk with the Warden` days, High tide watch, Dawn Chorus Walk, and (pride of place) the Kingfisher monitoring. In particular, it was great to have been able to have obtained actual proof (for the first time) that one of our Kingfisher families had a third brood, something that hadn`t been proved before for our site. I managed to track down a `new` young male Kingfisher (as opposed to one from the two previous broods), in mid September, looking as though it had only been fledged a couple of days. 

 

Spreadsheets of data were collated throughout the breeding season, all of which has become very useful for future work.

Looking forward now to starting 2024 with a bit of a new slate, and I should be assisting with the WWT tick event on New Year`s Day. Some of the projects from that lengthy list might be started too.

Lots of New Year resolutions from last time carried-forward again, plus (although i`ve said this before) I hope to get back to some art again too. 

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful 2024.

 

 

Happy Christmas!

 

I would just like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas, and a peaceful 2024.

Stay safe, and thank you for all your support.

 

a spluttery week

 

It`s been a bit of a strange week, as i`ve been full of an almost covid-like heavy cold since last weekend, losing my taste, hearing (what`s left of it), breathing (I went `amber` on my asthma readings), and just about everything else. Tested `negative`for covid twice, but it`s been a bit of a week "treading water" and just plodding on.

Last Monday I attended the WWT roadshow for us volunteers on their new strategy to 2030, with new branding strap lines, etc. The lure of cake kept me going, and the spluttering and coughing input I contributed at Q & A time probably mystified the Board who were down from Slimbridge. At least I made it, lasted until the afternoon, then collapsed in a chair when I got home! That set the tone for the rest of the week. 

Wrapped up in four or five layers, I did somehow manage to do a bit of photography on Tuesday, but that was me finished with the camera out in great outdoors for the week. 

So today, Saturday 9th, i`ve unusually been indoors all day, and looking through some recent shots from the last few weeks. I`ve also been looking back on other things too, including last year`s `New Years resolutions`, and found that i`ve not only not achieved them, but also not started them! So they`re going to be carried forward to 2024, and then a number of other things added on top.

Next Saturday is another Walk with the Warden day, and fingers-crossed i`ll be back at WWT for that. It`s only just over two weeks until Christmas, so next Saturday will be a bit of fresh air and exercise away from the succession of mince pies. In the meantime there are Advent activities and services, one or two personal appointments to attend (podiatry here I come), and number of other things in my diary that I hope my fuzzy and currently-blocked head can deal with. 

Looking forward to meeting everyone brave enough for the wander next week, and who knows what winter birds might be around? In the meantime, it`s back to the Vick, Halls cough sweets, Olbas oil and other remedies that will permeate through the house that I can`t begin to smell.

Stay safe.

R

Photography catch up

 

There`s been a cold snap this week, but it`s been good to do some photography again and catch up with some Short Eared owls amongst other things.

I came across a large flock of Fieldfare, and despite the numbers none where in a position to photograph, either against the light or dropping into the back of trees the other side. Very frustrating.

It`s only just over three weeks until Christmas, so free time is very limited. I still hope to be available for the WWT `walk` on Saturday 16th December, which will be good to get away from the pre-Christmas busy rush.

See you there.

Autumn light

 

After a grey start to the day, there was some lovely autumn light for a few hours when I chanced upon the `mouse-like` Long-tailed Tits flitting between trees.

These are fabulous little birds, quite confiding of people (if you keep still), and can form reasonably large social groups sometimes.

An afternoon visit to Llanrhidian marsh to check for Harriers paid off when a female Hen Harrier showed up, although a long way out as usual. Great to watch though, but never close enough today for any photography.

An hour or two later the grey clouds blotted out the sunlight, and it became reasonably dark quite quickly, so abandoned for the rest of the day.

A good walk

Thank you to everyone who turned up and supported the `Walk with the Warden` with me this morning.

The weather might not have been ideal, but it was good just to be out together, looking over different habitats and exploring areas that some people didn`t know existed. It was good to meet you all.

The next `Walk with the warden` is on Saturday 16th December . I look forward to seeing you there. 

WWT walk today

 

Well with Christmas beckoning around the corner, it`s going to be good to get out and about a bit today to clear the head from the past week, get the boots on, and check out what`s out there for the people on the walk today.

It`s been mild so far, no hint of a frost yet, but who knows what`s ahead. The Bewick swans have been later arriving at Slimbridge due to the mild weather, but the influxes of some birds may indicate a very cold winter ahead for Europe and Scandinavia. I had the odd sighting of a pair of Shovelor mating outside of the Peter Scott hide, a Common Darter resting on the timber of the foot bridge to the Heron`s Wing hide, and Water Rail quite vocal down past the reedbeds at the Welsh Water hide (normally get more vocal mid winter leading up to Spring). So I think some of our nature is a bit confused at the moment.

With the recent storms, and more gales forecast for today, there`s a chance of something unusual turning up, you just have to be at the right place at the right time. For example, when I was checking the Reserve prior to last month`s `Walk with the warden`, a passing Short Eared Owl was reported on the salt marsh from the British Steel hide, being in the opposite side of the whole site from where I was (very frustrating!). But it`s going to be blustery all day today, so we`ll see what happens.

Next weekend is the WWT Llanelli Christmas Craft fair weekend, so a good chance to check that out plus the Shop too. As for me, i`ll probably be outdoors somewhere.

Today`s walk starts at 11.30am. Be weatherproof and have good footwear, as it`s still sweeping down as I type this.

See you later.

Soup kitchen - end of an era

 

I regret to announce that last week was my last time as a volunteer at the Wednesday evening soup kitchen in Llanelli.

Having been a volunteer since it started five and a half years ago, and my previous similar work both in Swansea and Plymouth, I will miss the rapport and involvement with our guests immensely.

I remain a volunteer with WWT Llanelli when time permits, and of course will be doing this Saturday`s `Walk with the warden` as per my other post. I look forward to bumping into you there.

November`s Walk with the Warden

I`ll be doing the Walk with the Warden again this Saturday coming, 18th November 2023.

I`ll looks like a soggy and windy one, so come prepared with suitable clothing and boots (the paths can be very wet and possibly muddy).

There is a chance that some of the Reserve, including the Northern Loop, could close if weather conditions are poor, but we`ll meet in the main reception area for 11.30am when a decision will be made. 

We also might be looking at the flocks of wading birds, spoonbill and build-up of wildfowl   on the saltmarsh, possible a raptor or two as well!

See you there. 

Remembrance Sunday

Lovely Remembrance Sunday service at St.Gwynogs this morning, specifically remembering the `fallen` from the church from the two Worlds Wars and beyond.

With all the news from the Middle East and Ukraine, the world is still a crazy place.
 

Short Eared Owls

 

Caught up with some Short Eared Owls this week in Carmarthenshire.

I went to their known area rather tentatively, knowing that they are subject to disturbance, and too much attention from people will probably make them decide to move on. 

The day was spent next to the cover of high bramble bush, using the shadows, and trying not to get caught in the thorns. With one quite active soon after my arrival, a second started showing an hour or so later, joined by a few even more distant ones in adjoining fields by the afternoon. Some hefty and prolonged showers (that weren`t forecast) made the light drop considerably at times, but generally a great few hours.

I sincerely hope they won`t be disturbed, as more people begin to turn up to watch them, or try and find them. I`m also hoping that those that turn up also respect the local land ownership, and don`t upset local farmers (as what happened down in Newport with the Barn owl some time ago).

With a large influx of birds, my money`s still on a very cold winter in Europe and Scandinavia. 

Let`s see what happens over the next few months.

Cold winter ahead?

Interesting scenarios published this week seem to suggest a wetter, milder autumn and early winter, leading to a much colder but drier mid-to-late winter, 

There seems to be an influx of Waxwing to the North of the UK, particularly Shetland and Orkney, Shorties across the country, and even Water Rail to the Welsh Islands. With Hen Harrier and Merlin also down on lower ground and coastal marshes by early October, it could be that much colder picture not too far ahead? Who knows.

Just need all this regular rain to stop though.

Winter birds have arrived

 

(Short eared Owl - Carmarthenshire, 2020)

I took a break from all the gloss painting and other stuff form the last few weeks, and went to Llanrhidian yesterday to see what was there. I was hoping to catch a Short eared owl, as someone reported one a couple of weeks ago, but no show while I was there.

My other main target birds were Hen Harrier, and both a male and a female were present - a long way out though. With the very soft mud following big tides plus the heavy rain recently, I decided to sit tight by the car and see if anything would come close. Not my day, however plenty of birds out there including large numbers of Geese, Goldfinch bouncing around the marsh, Great white egret, Red Kite, Stonechat, etc.

Back on my local estuary i`ve had Merlin around and again good numbers of Canada and Greylag Geese, but no sign of a local Hen Harrier yet this year on the limited time I can be there. (The roaming horses restrict where I can view from now). Hoping that one day I will catch a Short eared owl locally, perfect habitat with the rough fields adjacent to the marsh. My gut feeling is that they have passed through at some stage over the years, but haven`t seen this yet.

I saw my first two Redwing of the winter on Llangennech marsh this week, so hope they will be in in good numbers soon.

Yesterday`s walk

Another good showing for `Walk with the warden` yesterday at WWT Llanelli, and thanks to everyone that came along.

Earlier in the morning I had a good sighting, although brief, of a female Marsh Harrier flying over the Reserve and in to the Deep water lake area, and naturally I was hoping we might have been fortunate to have seen in again. Well it didn`t happen, but we had a good walk anyway.

 This time we went via the Southern loop and down to the reed beds, stopping every now and then to look at different habitats and suggest areas to watch out for different species at different times of the year. The weather was kind to us (for once), so we took advantage and had a bit longer together on the Reserve than initially planned.

The next `Walk with a warden` is planned for Saturday 18th November *, so why not de-stress from pre-Christmas shopping and come along? The walk is more of a gentle amble rather than anything strenuous. Meet in the inside reception area for 11.30am, with good footwear and suitable clothing for the weather advisable.

(* Check the WWT Llanelli website nearer the planned date)

Back from the Framers

 

Just back from the framers with my latest 'pride and joy', signatures from the Don Powell Band, Bev Bevan (ex-ELO, The Move, Black Sabbath), and one of Don Powell's reinforced sticks, given to me by Don himself.

Thanks to Sharon at Named and Framed in Llanelli for a job well done.

This will be hanging in the Study!

Walk with a warden (October)

 

On Saturday 21st October 2023 I will be taking part with the `Walk with the Warden` again at WWT Llanelli, Penclacwydd, from 11.30am to 1pm.

Come prepared for bad weather, just in case!

North Gower marshes

 

Had a couple of hours on the marshes of North Gower yesterday, and a few occasional long-distance sightings of Hen Harrier - indicating that winter is not far away.

These stunning birds come down in the autumn from the higher moorland where they have spent the spring and summer, and use the coastal marshes in particular for the winter. They normally hunt low over the ground, tilting their shallow V-shaped wings until they then twist and turn down onto an unsuspecting prey.

I always have a `hit list` of birds to photograph in the winter, the male Hen Harrier being one of them. With completely different plumage to the female in this long-distance shot, the male is a stunning and rare bird to see, pale grey with black tips to the wings, as if dipped in ink.

Others on my list again this year (hopefully!) are of course Short Eared Owl, Merlin, Bittern, and Rough-Legged Buzzard. However, there are lots of other great species to photograph which should be more easily to see, so fingers crossed.

New cards delivered

 

They`ve arrived, and on the back we have the correct current details.

Very pleased with the final version.

those new cards

 

They should be with me today ......

I`m talking about the new cards i`ve designed to move forward from my previous `russartworx` business cards, which encompassed my work both as a photographer and as an artist. 

Previous cards had my past web address plus a domain-based mailbox for email on the reverse side, so a revamp with up to date information was required. The information this time includes this blog address, social media I use (facebook and twitter / X), a gmail address, contact number, plus an up to date QR code with the main contact details.

The big question for me was ..... what should I use for a front image? 

With literally thousands of images to choose from, I opted to use one particular Kingfisher image from last year. The image is simple, balancing detail with soft depth of field, with colours that punch through. I could have chosen a dramatic shot of one with a fish, or some other completely different subject matter, but I like the balance of this image which, to me, is artistically dynamic.

Because I am no longer officially self employed as a photographer and artist, I needed to simply show that I could be contacted for photography on a casual basis, rather than under my past `russartworx` business. 

So, awaiting delivery today! 

all in a week

 Last Saturday it was good to be with the hardy guests who came on the High Tide watch at WWT Llanelli just as the weather really closed in. Strong winds, eventual sweeping rain and failing light were all a challenge, but the `buffet in the hide` raised the spirits! 

Thank you to all who turned up and appreciated the event, despite the challenging conditions.

Then up the M5:

On Tuesday we headed to Kidderminster, Worcs where a special event was to take place at the 45 Live club, the shooting of the video to accompany the forthcoming single by The Don Powell Band. We then found out that the special guest was to be Bev Bevan, formerly of ELO.

I`ve never actually met Don before, for various reasons never making prior events, so this was going to be special.

A fantastic evening, meeting Don himself (complete with selfie, which I never normally do!), a meet and greet with the full band, watching and being part of the video shoot, and finishing off with a Q and A with them sat just a few feet away! 

To finish things off, Don offered me one of his hammered sticks, so a VERY happy Russ by the end of the night. 

A third brood

 

 

Well this is a first (we think) for WWT Llanelli - actual evidence of a third Kingfisher brood on the Reserve.

This very young male Kingfisher was showing typical behaviour of having recently fledged, alongside the giveaway features of a young juvenile - very dark breast plumage, dark sooty feet and the white tip to the bill.

The first brood fledged on 20th May (at least one male and one female), the second brood during the last week in July. Three young males fledged.

Unfortunately there was some regular disturbance around their breeding area, including an area `roped off` to the public (for a reason!), so at time of writing we`re not 100% sure where they nested for their 3rd brood. 

This young male Kingfisher may or may not have brothers or sisters, time will tell, but faces a tough time head. Storm Agnes is due to hit Wales and other parts of the UK today and into tomorrow, so hoping it will find shelter but also be able to learn to fish quickly. Hopefully there might be more young from this third brood, but they`ll all need to sort themselves out as we head into autumal weather. The mortality rate for Kingfishers over the first couple of years can be high.

The data collected this year and last year in particular has been helpful in getting a better insight into their breeding patterns, territorial behaviour, etc.

Other Kingfisher seen on the salt marsh from the Michael Powell and British Steel hides breed or have fledged from a separate secluded area. These birds are more likely to be seen during the winter months than those from the Reserve (Millenium Wetlands).

We wish our latest young a lot of luck 👍

(The location of this photo will remain undisclosed)

Back at Ginst

 

With the Falconry photography cancelled this week due to the weather, and other days trying to do some dreaded gloss-painting at home, it was good to get back to Ginst to check out the area again in preparation for winter.

It was a quiet day bird wise, but a good opportunity to suss out some new areas to watch, where some particular natural shelter might be for different wind directions. Might sound a little geeky, but i`ve often found that if there`s a chance to plan it ends up worthwhile further down the line.

As we`re now well into the autumnal changes, it`s a time that `anything can happen`, and coastal marshes and rough land well worth checking out regularly.

I`ll be trying to watch my local estuary and marsh more often if I can, loose horses and dogs permitting. 😟 

It won`t be long now before the geese and waders build up, winter wildfowl like Wigeon arrive en-masse, and winter raptors come down from the hills. Normally, once there have been the first frosts you may start seeing Hen Harrier or Merlin on the coastal marshes. All you really need are decent days weatherwise, with a good bit of light and a smidging of luck to be on your side.

 

Falconry

 

I`ll be back working with Carmarthenshire Falconry next week, photographing a customer experience day while their client enjoys handling and flying the birds.

The falconry session has been arranged to take place in a Carmarthenshire country park, and photographing the session gives the client those visual memories to keep. I normally prepare, edit and send a selections of images to the client via dropbox within 24 hours.

To arrange a private falconry session, and to arrange for me to cover some photography, contact Carmarthenshire Falconry via their website or facebook page.

Walk and Tide Watch

 

Looking forward to taking part in two upcoming events at WWT Llanelli. 

The first is the next Walk with the Warden next Saturday, 16th September . This will be approximately from 11.30am to 1pm.

At the end of September is the annual evening high tide watch, a bookable event, so get in touch with the Centre soo to book your place.

WWT Kingfisher activity

 

Good to see plenty of Kingfisher activity at WWT Llanelli today. Both male and female juveniles (I think from the first brood) stayed around for some time, and have learnt to fish well.

These birds, along with the others in the broods, will disperse a bit further once autumn gets a grip, and we then head in to winter. Other birds on the WWT site, in the more saline areas, will be seen on and off.

A beautiful sunny day can be a nightmare for photographing Kingfishers, ensuring you don`t blow the whites (very common in photos). Harsh shadows when the bird is turning means even more for the delete bin, so what looks good to the eye can be more tricky to photograph properly. 

New cards in the making ......

 

Front side of the new card, currently awaiting delivery 😀

 

As the remnant`s of summer will soon begin to creep into autumn (where did the year go?) it`s time for me to make those plans that I probably won`t get around to again, but who knows. 

One project I haven`t done for ages is to visit `fall country` on the edge of the Brecon Beacons. A beautiful area, to be respected at all times due to it`s muddy and slippery environment, the falls at Pontneddfechan are just one of a series that can lead to the higher ground of the Beacons.

I think for the plan later this year it will be all tripods - both the carbon fibre Benro plus the small `bendy` Gorilla  - and possibly mic up with the Rode mic to work on some video too to edit into slow motion. 

This time around I think i`ll use my Gobe ND filters at different levels, which may or may not work, but should allow for greater slow shutter speed control.

Hmm, this has got me thinking into autumn mode now. Will add this to my never-ending to do list of projects.

Frasier

 

(picture in public domain)

Over the last week or so i`ve been trying to get some evening chill out time watching (for the zillionth time) one of my favourite programmes, Frasier. I have the full set on DVD, but came across the full series available from ALL4, so handy from the laptop.

Frasier is timeless, and one of those programmes that makes you feel better for having watched it. So where better to start again but from Series One. 😀    

Flashback to Forest Farm, 2019

 

Four years ago I was at Forest Farm. 

This is a lovely spot not too far from Cardiff, and benefits (when quiet) from a couple of good hides where there are good opportunities to see Kingfisher.

Like anywhere, Forest Farm can attract visitors that cause disturbance. I remember on this occasion I had to endure three loud birdwatcher/twitcher photographers who were so engrossed trying to out-do each other in conversations about their latest equipment that you couldn`t hear what was going on outside! In fact the noise probably helped keep the birds away at the time. 

The `performance` continued for about an hour, so I moved on to the second hide to see if it was quiet. Well it was a little quieter, not by much, as there were only two photographers in full conversation, giving me advice (!!!!) and in the process missing what was going on. 

(distant Kingfisher from the second hide)

When they finally realised there were two Kingfisher in the distance fishing together, they`d already missed a few minutes of action.  They then went on to miss more while they were showing each other their photos, with full running commentary. At this point two of the chaps from the first hide came in - everyone knew each other, etc etc, so it was time to move again.

I slipped back to the first hide which by this time was quiet, and fairly soon I was by myself. Within half an hour or so I had Kingfisher turn up, then joined a second, and they stayed around in front of me for best part of twenty minutes. 

So the afternoon ended well in the end, but it was just a shame that yet again there was so much unnecessary disturbance. 

Second Kingfisher brood

 

Good to have had a little time earlier in the week to be out and about (between the showers) and caught up with our 2nd brood of Kingfisher - three young males.

The Kingfishers fledged sometime between last Wednesday and Friday, and there`s always a chance that there might be another one, possibly a female) that hasn`t been seen yet. While I was there, a female bird from the 1st brood - that fledged on 20th May - put in a distant appearance, so currently there are a few birds around. They will soon be exploring new fishing areas, and by October would have dispersed onto a wider area of the reserve.

These two other young male birds spent time further up the channel partially hidden by the reeds, but should be much more active over the next couple of weeks.

-----------------

I hope to check out my more local Kingfisher family soon to see if they have been successful this year. On previous years, including last year, loose dogs have made both Kingfisher and Dipper adults abandon their nests during the breeding season, and the broods have failed. This happened to Dipper the previous year too.

The Trosserch  Woods / Allt side of the River Morlais has a number signs by the landowners asking for dogs to be kept on leads at all times, which only some comply with but most unfortunately don`t. I had to endure three loose dogs having a go at me last summer while all three `owners` didn`t care nor apologised. The village park, that allows dog owners to exercise their dogs, is only a few minutes away, so I do wonder why people choose to ignore

Back on the WWT Reserve the Kingfisher are safe from dogs, but unfortunately can get disturbed by people that go into restricted roped-off areas. This happened last weekend again when I was doing some monitoring, and , yes, it can and sometimes does affect whether birds will carrying on in their breeding territories.

Here`s hoping all of the five known new Kingfisher on the Reserve, plus those that have bred behind the main grounds, will do well and find areas of their own soon.  Good luck to them. 

More photography for the Falconry

 

I`ll be back working with the Carmarthenshire Falconry again soon to cover their guests` Flying and Handling experience days.

While Steve is working and talking with the customer on the day, I try to capture those moments that will add to the memories of the day. 

The `personal` photos don`t get published on my social media, but rather the customer receives a set of memorable shots via Dropbox normally within 24 hours.

To book your falconry day, contact Carmarthenshire Falconry, and let them know that you would like to have your Experience to include my photography at the same time.

Thank you.

some time off

I`m going to be taking a few days off social media just for time to reflect on things. 

It`s an important family time, a time to be together when we say goodbye to Dad, but i`ll be getting back to some nature photography and maybe social media again in a week or so. 

Thanks

Swansea airshow

 

There`s nothing quite like a good airshow. Out in the fresh air, the level of anticipation of what`s to come, and then of course the noise of a Typhoon roaring in at some stage.

This year I could only get to the second day in Swansea, which started off with the Red Arrows at precisely 12 noon (not 11.59 or12.01!). Coming in over Swansea from behind the crowd line, they put on the usual display of excellence although they were unable to perform their full display, including high loops, due to low cloud-base at the time.

A great show followed, with the Strikemaster pair, Team Raven, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Wing walkers, Yak, Thunderbolt and many more, but of course not forgetting the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The Typhoon`s individual display followed a dual flypast with the Lancaster from BBMF, which i`ve never seen before.

No helicopters this year unfortunately, which was a shame as I was looking forward to seeing (for the first time for many years) the Westland Wasp, which was on the original schedule. However, there was one aircraft that i`d never seen before, even though I had it in Airfix when I was young! - the Swordfish. 

If ever there was a complete opposite to the very fast and very loud Typhoon, this was it. A wonderfully-lumbering biplane from early WWII. 

Other airshows are unfortunately out of the question for me this year, but i`m already looking forward to what might be on `the menu` for the Wales National Airshow next year.

As Red 1 would say, "Smoke on ...."