Wildlife Photography Blog…
My first blog! It's early June, and there's a lot of wildlife activity around my home in West Cork because most animals are breeding. Birds are gathering food for their babies, either in the nest or their fledglings. This week in Irish birdwatching, a rare Yellow-crowned Night Heron was found in Mayo. Bird fans travelled to Mayo from all over Ireland and even some made the trip from the UK. The first seen in Ireland ever, having travelled from across the Atlantic from the US I’m told.
I haven't seen any vagrants or visiting birds like this in West Cork this week , but I have seen many familiar birds and animals in my local area. This week alone, I have been lucky enough to have photographed Kingfishers and Irish Dippers, numerous Spotted Flycatchers along the river banks and an adult otter. However, ive not seen any otter pups so far this year. The hirundines are in full breeding behaviour and I’ve even been able to find my first swift nest location. Of course, i’m keeping my distance away from all nests and minimising any impacts my presence may cause to the birds. I've been trying to take photos of swallows and swifts this week. I will keep trying because I haven't succeeded yet. They’re not the easiest birds to photograph in flight as they are so small, fast and erratic.
I’m lucky enough to have Red foxes in the fields around my house and they have become very confident with my presence. There is one particular vixen that allows me to get very close and am working towards the perfect fox portrait. Hopefully, she’ll bring her cubs with her soon. I have already got some cub photos and video this year but despite the 800mm lens they were still a long way away.
Last week I was lucky enough to see my first Basking Shark and then some more. In fact, I counted at least thirty of them at one time, feeding and seen from the cliffs just a few miles from my home in West Cork. Such large, gentle creatures and the second largest fish in the world. I was able to photograph the Basking Sharks (and a Minke Whale) from a distance but ideally I would have brought my drone with me but sadly I didn't . The following day, the ocean changed from perfect for watching basking sharks to too rough. Still, it had been an unforgettable sight.
It's been a hectic week capturing wildlife through my lens. I’ve had numerous opportunities to photograph a variety of creatures this last week. Amidst the successful shots, there were a few missed chances, yet i’m staying focused on capturing swifts and swallows for the perfect shot. I am also eagerly anticipating encountering the nearby fox cubs, confident that their playful presence will be a joy to behold. The BBC programme Springwatch, a show that never fails to captivate me, is airing this again this week. I am also especially excited as I have noticed chicks in all my nest boxes, so I’m eagerly awaiting the first signs of fledglings beginning their journey.
Thank you for reading.
My favourite photo of the Week: Spotted Flycatcher
